French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu will travel to Armenia today for talks to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries.

“France and Armenia maintain a historic relationship of friendship, but the defense relationship was not at the level of the intensity of the bilateral relationship,” reads a statement released by Lecornu’s office according to Le Figaro.

The statement goes on to say that Armenia’s borders are being “nibbled away” and that French defense cooperation must be viewed in this context.

In October 2023, France and Armenia signed a letter of intent on air defense which includes a contract for the acquisition of three Ground Master (GM200) radar units from the French Thales Group.

 Lecornu and and Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan also signed a “letter of intent” on the future delivery of Mistral short-range surface-to-air missiles to Armenia.

France also promised to improve Armenia’s air defenses, train Armenian military personnel, and help the country reform its armed forces.

The French army plans to organize three mountain combat training courses this year with the Armenians.