On Monday, October 23, France confirmed the sale of defensive equipment to Armenia, coinciding with Azerbaijan's launch of military exercises in collaboration with Turkey. The announcement

comes following Azerbaijan's seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian separatists, raising concerns in Yerevan about potential threats to southern Armenia.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu disclosed that Armenia would be acquiring three Ground Master 200 (GM200) radar systems from the French defense group Thales. While financial details were not provided, Lecornu emphasized the exceptional detection capabilities of these radar systems, which have been previously used in Ukraine. This development was announced at a press conference alongside Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan.

Additionally, the ministers signed a letter of intent for the procurement of air defense systems involving Thales and the European missile manufacturer MBDA. Lecornu clarified that this letter of intent pertains to the purchase of "Mistral-type" equipment, signifying a short-range air defense missile system.

Lecornu emphasized that the acquired weapons are exclusively defensive in nature, designed to safeguard Armenian territory and its civilian populations in the event of aggression. "Detection only makes sense if it is accompanied by intervention and interception modules for attacks coming from the sky," he explained. He noted that the Armenian Ministry of Defense would handle the export licenses for these defensive systems.

Armenia further solidified its defense capabilities by signing a contract to purchase night-vision goggles from the French group Safran, strengthening its readiness to respond to various security scenarios. A spokesperson for the Armenian defense ministry emphasized that the discussions between the two countries extended to various aspects of bilateral cooperation.

The move to supply Armenia with defensive equipment had been previously announced by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna in early October. This announcement, however, led to Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev declining a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Spain. Azerbaijan criticized France for its perceived "militarization" policy in the South Caucasus.

It's worth noting that France, with its significant Armenian diaspora, has played a mediating role in the long-standing territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In a further sign of regional tension, Azerbaijan launched joint military exercises with Turkey near the border with Armenia on the same day. The situation in the South Caucasus remains complex and sensitive, with France's arms sale to Armenia being one part of the broader regional dynamics. Photo--Սէրուժ Ուրիշեան (Serouj Ourishian), Wikimedia commons.