France and Armenia have signed a deal on defense cooperation, with France selling defensive equipment to Armenia as Azerbaijan conducts military drills with Turkey. The agreement includes the purchase of three Ground Master 200 radar systems from French defense group Thales, as well as air defense systems involving Thales and European missile maker MBDA. The radar systems, known for their remarkable detection capabilities, will be used for defensive purposes. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu emphasized that the weapons can only be implemented in response to aggression on Armenian territory.

The deal also includes the purchase of night-vision goggles from French group Safran. The signing ceremony was followed by a meeting between the defense ministers of France and Armenia, where they discussed defense cooperation and regional security. This agreement comes after the recent seizure of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan and concerns that southern Armenia may be targeted next. France, with its large Armenian diaspora, has been involved in mediating the territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan for decades.