France is unable to ensure the security of Armenia, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, told a briefing on Wednesday, March 13, TASS reports.

“One gets the feeling that [authorities] in Yerevan, turning towards France and increasing military-technical cooperation with it, simply do not realize the true intentions of France’s so-called patrons, nor the risks from expanding their military presence in the region,” Zakharova said.

“They naively believe that France is ready or is capable of ensuring the security of Armenia.”

"Under false assurances of solidarity, words about peace, the current authorities of France, unfortunately, are not guided by the interests of Armenia, this is obvious, and by no means by the interests of the Armenian people,” Zakharova added.

“They are guided by their wounded geopolitical ambitions, anti-Russian sentiments, and the future of Armenia and the entire South Caucasus is simply a tool, a bargaining chip for Paris, one of the ways to maintain its own well-being, preserve its reputation, including against the backdrop of a hybrid war with our country.”

The French-Armenian defense cooperation is part of a broader deepening of relations between the countries. It comes amid Armenia’s mounting tensions with Russia, its longtime ally. Neighboring Iran has also signaled unease over the pro-Western tilt in Armenian foreign policy.