France ups military ties with Armenia with first ever visit by a defence minister

France's Sebastien Lecornu travelled to Armenia Thursday on the first trip by a French defence minister to the South Caucasus nation. It comes as tensions rise with Yerevan's historic rival Azerbaijan, and as French President Emmanuel Macron met with Armenia's leader in Paris.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and French President Emmanuel Macron attend the state ceremony for Missak and Melinee Manouchian's induction into the Pantheon in Paris on 21 February, 2024. AFP - CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu's visit to Armenia follows the induction into the Panthéon of Armenian-born Resistance fighter Missak Manouchian in Paris on Wednesday.

Lecornu's becomes the first French defence minister to visit Armenia, and the European defense minister in about a decade.

France and Armenia signed a letter of intent on air defence in October last year that included the acquisition of three Thales Ground Master (GM200) radars capable of detecting an enemy aircraft up to 250 kilometres away.

France will also provide Armenia with night vision goggles, manufactured by Safran. In addition, the French military will hold three mountain combat training sessions with the Armenian forces later this year.

BREAKING: France is set to deliver a shipment of defensive armaments to Armenia today, February 22, Le Figaro reports.

According to AFP news agency, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu will embark on a two-day visit to Armenia on the same date, marking the first-ever visit… pic.twitter.com/c8Ikzcg4zk

— 301🇦🇲 (@301arm) February 22, 2024

• French FM visits Armenia to reaffirm support amid Nagorno-Karabakh crisis
• Armenian Resistance hero Manouchian joins France's Panthéon luminaries

Armenian diaspora

France, with its 600,000-plus Armenian community, profiles itself as a mediator in the conflict over control of the Haut-Karabakh region. In September last year, Azeri forces entered the area, exiling some 100,000 Armenians.

Today, skirmishes between Armenian and Azeri forces continue. France has committed to support Armenia in its defensive efforts.

Armenia is increasingly worried that Azerbaijan, which is wealthier, better-armed and supported by Turkey, might attempt to forcibly link the Azerbaijani enclave of Nakhchivan to its territory by invading Armenia's south.

Lecornu's trip comes after French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about a "risk of escalation" between Armenia and Azerbaijan as he received Armenian leader Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday.

Pashinyan last week warned that Azerbaijan was preparing for a "full-scale war" with Armenia after decades of tensions over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

On 13 February, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of firing shots at the border, resulting in four Armenian soldier deaths and one injury, according to Yerevan.

During an exchange of fire the day before, one Azeri was wounded.