Armenia and France have signed a deal on defense cooperation.
On a working visit to the French Republic, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan visited the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the French Republic, where he was given a ceremonial welcome with participation of the Military Band and the Guard of Honor. The national anthems of the Republic of Armenia and the French Republic were played.
The ceremony was followed by a meeting between the Defense Ministers of the countries. Attending the meeting were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to France Hasmik Tolmajyan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Olivier Decottignies. Issues related to the Armenian-French cooperation in the defense field and regional security were discussed.
The progress of implementation of the agreements reached during discussions held in Paris in September 2022, and June 2023 were summarized. The Ministers outlined new opportunities for the development of cooperation, which include acquisition of defense systems, military education, training, exchange of experience and other areas of mutual interest.
The sides appreciated the current status of cooperation and expressed readiness to take efforts to further develop it.
The official meeting was followed by a joint statement to the press, during which the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia expressed his gratitude to the French side for the comprehensive support to the development of defense cooperation.
The Ministers answered the journalists’ questions. Afterwards, documents on bilateral cooperation were signed in the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France.
The Ministry of the Armed Forces said earlier Ministers Lecornu and Papikyan would formalize the acquisition of weapons to enable Armenia to protect its civilian populations and ensure the defense of its borders.
