Armenia and the UAE have announced a major expansion of their defence partnership after Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan met in Dubai with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister.
Armenia’s Defence Ministry said the talks focused on broadening military cooperation, with both sides expressing readiness to sign a formal defence agreement. Once finalised, the accord is expected to set out priority areas for collaboration, establish regular consultation mechanisms, and potentially open the door to joint initiatives in defence technology, training, and capability development.
By presenting a framework for such an agreement, Yerevan appears intent on formalising ties with Gulf defence partners at a time when it is rapidly diversifying its security relationships. The shift comes amid a profound overhaul of Armenia’s defence procurement strategy since 2022. For almost thirty years, Russia had been its dominant—nearly exclusive—supplier of major weapons systems and a central security partner. That reliance weakened after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War and eroded further following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which sharply reduced Moscow’s ability to meet arms commitments.
Armenian leaders have recently spoken more openly about distancing themselves from Russia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told parliament that until 2022, Russia was the only country willing to sell Armenia weapons, as other states feared their equipment might be used outside Armenia’s recognised borders. He said the situation changed after the October 2022 Prague summit, where Armenia and Azerbaijan reaffirmed recognition of each other’s territorial integrity, unlocking opportunities with previously reluctant suppliers.
Since then, Armenia has concluded several notable defence deals, including multimillion-dollar contracts with India for artillery, anti-drone systems, and multiple-launch rocket systems. It has also deepened cooperation with France, acquiring air-defence assets and beginning negotiations on radar and surveillance platforms.
