French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies stated in an interview with Armenian Public Radio that defense cooperation between Armenia and France is still new but developing rapidly.

He emphasized that in 2025, cooperation will focus on three key areas:

“The first is the supply of defense equipment to Armenia. France, in fact, is the only Western country currently providing Armenia with defense equipment, and we hope other countries will follow our example. The second area is the training of Armenian military personnel, both in Armenia and in France. The third is advisory services provided to Armenia’s Ministry of Defense, which will help reform and strengthen the Armenian army,” the ambassador explained.

Commenting on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s January 8 statement—in which he urged France and other arms-supplying countries to cancel their contracts and return weapons delivered to Armenia—the ambassador reaffirmed that official Paris remains committed to its cooperation with Yerevan in the defense sector.

“This cooperation continues with the same goal—to help Armenia protect its territory, its population, and its sovereignty,” he said.

The Armenian Ministry of Defense has signed a military-technical cooperation agreement with the French defense company KNDS. Additionally, Yerevan and Paris have agreed on the acquisition of CAESAR self-propelled howitzers. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the fourth European Political Community summit in London, previously noted that Azerbaijan had significantly outpaced Armenia in military acquisitions over the years.