France sends weapons to Armenia amid political row with Azerbaijan
- 26 October, 03:11
France will provide Armenia with defence equipment, including air defence systems, the French government announced on October 23. The relevant deal was signed during French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s visit to Armenia.
Speaking to reporters in Yerevan, Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Armenia would buy three Ground Master 200 radar systems from the French defence group Thales. The minister added that the system is known for its "remarkable detection capabilities", adding that Ukraine was already using it. “Detection only makes sense if it is accompanied by intervention and interception modules for attacks coming from the sky,” Lecornu said.
The financial details about the deal have not been revealed.
Lecornu also signed a letter of intent for Armenia's purchase of air defence systems involving Thales and European missile maker MBDA.
The defence agreement comes after Azerbaijan recaptured the remaining part of Nagorno-Karabakh in a lightning victory in September. Azerbaijan’s move forced around one hundred thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee from their homes in Nagorno Nagorno-Karabakh.
In early October, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev accused France of creating a new conflict between Baku and Yerevan by sending weapons to its archenemy Armenia.
During a phone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel on October 7, Aliyev said the provision of weapons by France to Armenia was “an approach that was not serving peace, but one intended to inflate a new conflict,” adding that if any new conflict occurs in the region, “France would be responsible for causing it.”
