PARIS – France is committed to supporting Armenia in its defense efforts, French Minister for Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced following a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan.
“We continue to work on supporting Armenia in its defense efforts, including advice, training, and equipment, particularly in the area of air defense,” Lecornu stated.
The meeting was preceded by an official welcoming ceremony, which featured a guard of honor and the national anthems of both countries.
At the outset of the meeting, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan expressed his condolences for the victims of the cyclone on the French overseas island of Mayotte and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
Discussions focused on the current state of defense cooperation between Armenia and France. Papikyan highlighted the importance of implementing previously reached agreements while emphasizing the significance of new agreements to be achieved during the meeting.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to a long-term, institutional basis for cooperation between the two nations. Minister Lecornu confirmed France’s dedication to further developing bilateral defense cooperation.
As part of these efforts, the 2025 defense cooperation program between Armenia and France was signed last Tuesday in Yerevan, following strategic defense consultations. The program encompasses dozens of measures addressing nearly all aspects of the armed forces’ activities.