On February 23, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received the delegation led by French Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu, who arrived on an official visit to the Republic of Armenia. The interlocutors discussed the works carried out in the direction of defense cooperation and upcoming plans. The parties emphasized Armenia-France cooperation within the framework of the reforms of the Armenian Armed Forces, including military education, combat training, and other directions. The sides exchanged thoughts on issues related to regional security and stability.

During a joint press conference with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu in Yerevan on February 23, Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan said that the agenda of military cooperation between Armenia and France covers almost all spheres of life of the armed forces. Papikyan said his talks with Lecornu took place in a substantial and practical atmosphere. "The agenda of our cooperation covers practically all spheres of life of the armed forces. Particularly noteworthy is France's comprehensive advisory support to Armenia's reforms in the defense sector, military education, and, of course, the modernization of the defense means of the Armenian Armed Forces. I would like to inform that the bilateral cooperation since this year is based on precise planning and develops in more than a dozen directions," the head of the Armenian military department noted.

"During the talks, the French side was familiarized with the process of reforming the Armenian army, which is aimed at forming the armed forces meeting modern standards and capable of confronting modern challenges," Papikyan added. "Armenia has an indisputable right to form defensive alliances with various states and organizations without having any aggressive intentions towards other countries," Papikyan added. Papikyan stressed the importance of reforming the armed forces of the Transcaucasian Republic and diversifying its relations in the military-political sphere, especially after the events of September, when Armenia began to seek ways to strengthen its defense capabilities actively. "India has emerged as a key ally in Asia, the first to respond to Armenia's calls, and France has taken a similar stance in Europe, demonstrating its willingness to support the strengthening of its military capabilities," Papikyan noted. "France's role in the development of the Armenian Armed Forces is of vital importance, and the sides have managed to record significant progress in a year and a half," he added, stressing that the two countries' defense partnership has the character of long-term planning.

In response to the question of whether the cooperation with Paris does not contradict Yerevan's obligations within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, as well as whether the position of neighboring Iran, whose authorities have repeatedly pointed out the destructiveness of the presence of extra-regional forces in the South Caucasus, is taken into account, Minister Papikyan said that all international agreements are based on the principle of reciprocity. He called Armenia's aspiration to diversify its defense alliances a conscious choice conditioned by the security challenges. Armenia has the right to independently determine the directions of its foreign policy and defense cooperation based on the national interests and security of the country while remaining open and transparent in its actions. "As for our neighbors, friends, allies, various centers (of power), regarding the same Iran, I can say that Armenian-French cooperation is not directed against anyone. I think we have the right to cooperate with both France and Iran. Our French colleagues respect our cooperation with our other partners, our Iranian colleagues respect our cooperation with our French partners. I think our Russian colleagues should do the same. Armenia has no taboos for cooperation for (ensuring) its own defense," the head of the military department said.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that France will supply Armenia with, among other things, short-, medium- and long-range air defense systems if necessary. "If Armenia needs it, we can put short, medium, and long-range air defense systems at its disposal as well. This is what it means to be a reliable and trustworthy partner when it comes to the sovereignty of a country," Lecornu noted. He informed that France handed overnight vision devices to Armenia, and a new batch of Bastion armored vehicles is being prepared. "|All these means have defensive significance, they should contribute to protecting Armenia's borders and population," he stressed. Lecornu further drew attention to the fact that since the times of Charles de Gaulle, France has been a self-sufficient country in arms production. "Everything that the French army uses is produced in the Fifth Republic itself, which provides freedom of action in building defense cooperation on the external perimeter," the minister said.

"The nomenclature of French arms supplies will depend on the needs of the Armenian side. At the same time, it is necessary to understand what weapons, in what volumes, in what terms, and at what price French manufacturers are ready to supply," the head of the military ministry added. According to Lecornu, no one can criticize France for defense cooperation with Armenia.