French Defense Minister Presents 3 Key Points of Armenia-France Defense Relations

The French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, has outlined three key points regarding Armenia-France defense relations on X (formerly Twitter):

1. Support for the Armenian army in its transformation process. This includes the opening of a defense mission in January 2023, the dispatch of a French military officer as a military advisor to the Armenian Ministry of Defense, and numerous visits and working meetings.

2. Training. Cooperation with military and sub-military educational institutions, training conducted by operational training units, particularly in mountain combat and shooting locations.

3. Strengthening Ground Air Defense Systems. This includes the signing of a contract for the acquisition of three GM200 radar systems and a memorandum of understanding concerning air defense, as well as a memorandum regarding the acquisition of Mistral anti-aircraft systems and an upcoming audit of Armenia’s ground air defense systems.

It is worth noting that earlier it was reported that documents on bilateral cooperation were signed at the French Ministry of Armed Forces. Armenia will purchase three GM200 radars and Mistral missiles produced by the French Thales Group for air defense purposes.

Previously, on October 22, Armenian Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan made a working visit to the French Republic at the invitation of French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu. This information was provided by the Armenian Ministry of Defense.

Furthermore, it was reiterated by France's Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu that Paris and Yerevan will formalize agreements for the purchase of French weapons, particularly in the field of air defense, on Sunday.