France is demonstrating its support for Armenia amid escalating tensions with Azerbaijan and strained relations with Russia. On Friday, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with his Armenian counterpart, Suren Papikyan, in the Armenian capital to underscore deepening defence ties between the two nations.
Lecornu’s visit carried symbolic weight as his airplane delivered night vision goggles for Armenia, and the country also signed a contract to purchase assault rifles from French company PGM. Discussions regarding the procurement of short-range Mistral missiles from European contractor MBDA are underway.
“This cooperation, which has been ongoing for a year and a half now, is of great importance to Armenia… We’ve made progress, which means we can look forward to long-term planning in the years ahead,” Papikyan told reporters after the meeting.
“It’s an absolute priority for us to help Armenia protect its people… It’s because Armenia needs us right now that we’re here,” Lecornu added.
Armenia’s closer relationship with France comes in the wake of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announcing that Armenia has effectively suspended its membership in the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) military alliance.
Armenia’s sense of betrayal by Moscow stems from Russia’s inaction when Azerbaijan launched an offensive to retake the breakaway Armenian-inhabited region of Nagorno-Karabakh in September. Despite Russia having a peacekeeping contingent stationed there, it refrained from interference.
Armenia’s stance against Russia’s war in Ukraine further strains the relationship. However, fully disentangling from the Kremlin’s influence proves to be a complex task, as Pashinyan clarified that there was no intention to close a Russian military base in Armenia.
Armenia’s primary security challenge lies in Azerbaijan, which demands a corridor through Armenia to connect to its exclave of Nakhchivan, a demand Armenia vehemently refuses. A recent skirmish resulted in the deaths of four Armenian soldiers.
With its alliance with Moscow in shambles, Armenia seeks new allies, and France, with its significant ethnic Armenian minority, emerges as one of the few Western countries in contention.
“Yerevan is looking to those partners who truly provide security,” Lecornu remarked, taking a veiled jab at Russia. Friday marked the first visit to Yerevan by a French defence minister, and Lecornu’s fourth meeting with his Armenian counterpart Papikyan since May 2022.
“The visit of the French minister of the armed forces only two years after the start of our defence relationship is proof that it is already systemic and far-reaching,” Papikyan stated.
Pashinyan’s recent visit to Paris, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron, underscores the importance of bilateral relations. Macron warned of the “real danger of escalation” following the border incident.
The Armenian PM’s visit to the French capital coincided with the ceremony of Missak Manouchian’s induction into the Panthéon mausoleum of French national heroes. Manouchian, a poet of Armenian origin, died as a resistance fighter during World War II.
Armenia seeks political backing and assistance in modernising its Soviet-era army to stand up against Azerbaijan’s larger and better-equipped military. With a close military relationship with NATO member Turkey and as a significant buyer of Israeli weapons, Armenia aims to transform its military capabilities.
The Armenian government plans to spend between $1.4 billion and $1.5 billion on defence this year and is also procuring weaponry from India.
Armenia seeks Western support to “restore the military balance” with Azerbaijan, which Tigran Grigoryan, director of Yerevan’s Regional Centre for Democracy and Security, believes has been exploiting Armenia’s vulnerabilities and inability to defend itself, pursuing an extremely maximalist agenda.
However, acquiring modern weapons alone is insufficient, according to Grigoryan. “All military analysts in Armenia agree that without a comprehensive reform process, all these procurements won’t be of any use.”
Lecornu’s visit to the Armenian capital with French defence contractors MBDA, Nexter, Arquus, Safran, Thales, and PGM, along with lawmakers from both the majority and opposition parties, signifies France’s commitment to Armenia’s security.
Besides the MBDA-made Mistral missiles, the two ministers discussed surface-to-air defence, short-, medium- and long-range defence, artillery, and anti-drone systems, Lecornu informed reporters. In October, the two ministers announced contracts for three Thales-made Ground Master 200 radars, expected to be delivered this summer.
France has also been involved in training Armenian troops. Paris and Yerevan signed a partnership between France’s elite Saint-Cyr military school and the Armenian military academy. A French military official is set to act as a defence consultant for the Armenian executive branch as of July.
“The Armenian army is of Soviet tradition and needs to transform in terms of both doctrine and equipment,” a French official remarked to reporters.
France insists that the weapons it sells are purely defensive, but Azerbaijan has vehemently criticised France’s growing interest in the region, fearing regional instability and an arms race. There are concerns about potential reactions from Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan, leading to further escalation and conflict.
In summary, the article highlights France’s strategic support for Armenia amidst regional tensions and Armenia’s efforts to diversify its alliances and strengthen its military capabilities.
Image Credit: Jon Gudorf/Flickr
