Civilnet
By Elen Muradyan
India’s Chief of Defence Staff, Anil Chauhan, arrived in Yerevan on Sunday, marking the highest-ranking military visit from India to Armenia to date as the two countries continue to expand defence cooperation.
Chauhan was formally welcomed on Monday at Armenia’s Defense Ministry headquarters with an honor guard and military band. According to an official statement, he held talks with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, attended by India’s ambassador to Armenia, Nilakshi Saha Sinha.
Papikyan praised the current level of Armenia–India defense cooperation and stressed the importance of regularly implementing joint programs. Chauhan said the Indian armed forces were ready to further develop cooperation in existing areas and to explore new directions of mutual interest. Regional and international security issues were also discussed, the ministry said, without providing details.
The visit comes against the backdrop of rapidly growing military ties between Armenia and India. In recent years, India has emerged as one of Armenia’s key arms suppliers, with publicly reported contracts covering artillery systems, rocket launchers, air defense assets and related ammunition.
Defense cooperation has expanded since 2022 as Armenia has sought to diversify its security partnerships following setbacks in its conflict with Azerbaijan and amid strained relations with traditional security guarantor Russia. For India, cooperation with Armenia has been viewed as part of a broader effort to increase its defense footprint in the South Caucasus and balance Pakistan-Turkey-Azerbaijan ties.
No further details on agreements or new initiatives were disclosed.
Stories
