Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron have signed a joint declaration establishing a strategic partnership between Armenia and France following Macron’s state visit to Armenia.
The signing ceremony took place during an official exchange of documents marking the results of the French president’s visit.
According to the declaration, the two countries agreed to elevate bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership based on sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, democratic values, human rights and the rule of law.
The document states that Armenia and France aim to significantly deepen cooperation in political, economic, defense, security, technological, educational, cultural and environmental spheres. The sides also reaffirmed their support for lasting peace in the South Caucasus based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the principles of the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.
The declaration highlights the importance of agreements reached in Washington on August 8, 2025, and underscores Armenia’s commitment to deepening relations with the European Union.
Under the agreement, Armenia and France pledged to expand political dialogue at all levels and hold regular consultations between their foreign ministries. France also expressed support for Armenia’s closer ties with the European Union, efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, resilience and sovereignty, and initiatives aimed at increasing European investment in Armenia.
A major section of the declaration focuses on security and defense cooperation. The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in defense, military education, military-technical and military-technological fields on a long-term basis. They also pledged to continue high-level strategic dialogue between their defense institutions and expand cooperation in peacekeeping missions, including within the framework of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy.
The declaration also envisages expanded cooperation in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, countering disinformation, internal security, migration and disaster risk management. Armenia and France additionally agreed to strengthen joint efforts against terrorism, organized crime and illegal trafficking.
In the economic sphere, the two countries pledged to deepen cooperation in infrastructure, transport, agriculture, healthcare, innovation, renewable energy, semiconductors, aerospace, environmental protection and financial services. The declaration also supports regional connectivity projects, including Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative and the TRIPP project, alongside the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
The agreement places strong emphasis on climate action and biodiversity protection, with France expressing support for Armenia’s hosting of the COP17 Biodiversity Conference in Yerevan in 2026.
The declaration also outlines plans to strengthen cooperation in education, science, culture, sports and youth exchanges. The two sides pledged support for the development of the French University in Armenia, promotion of the French language in Armenia and Armenian language education in France, as well as expanded cultural and academic partnerships.
The document further highlights the importance of decentralized cooperation and civil society partnerships, including regular forums between local authorities and civic organizations from both countries.
