India Emerges as Key Defense Partner for Armenia, Says Ministry of Defense

Yerevan, August 18: The Ministry of Defense has announced that Armenia is seeking to diversify its defense procurement, with India emerging as a key partner in military-technical cooperation.

Both nations share similar views on multilateralism and strategic autonomy. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh engaged in meaningful discussions with Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Manatsakan Safaryan in Yerevan.

The Ministry stated, “Their discussions focused on the growing defense partnership between India and Armenia. Armenia is striving to diversify its defense acquisitions, and India has become a primary partner in military-technical cooperation, as both countries hold similar views on multilateralism and strategic autonomy.”

Defense Secretary Singh also met with Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Karen Brutyan to review the full scope of India-Armenia defense collaboration.

The Ministry shared on the social media platform ‘X’, “On August 18, 2026, Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh met with Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Karen Brutyan in Yerevan. Both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of India-Armenia defense cooperation, including capability building, training, defense industrial collaboration, and research and development. They reaffirmed their commitment to mutual security and strategic autonomy.”

Earlier in the day, Singh visited the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy in Armenia and assessed the IT lab established with assistance from New Delhi. During the visit, he was briefed on the weapon systems supplied by India. He emphasized the growing collaboration in capability building and training, reiterating India’s commitment to support Armenia in areas of mutual interest.

He addressed the faculty, officers, and staff of the Military Academy, highlighting its crucial role in character development, decision-making skills, and enhancing leadership abilities.

The Ministry noted, “He underscored the increasing India-Armenia cooperation in capability building and training, reiterating India’s support to assist Armenia in areas of mutual interest.”

At the academy, Secretary Singh also met with Major General Arsen Mangasaryan, the head of the Military Academy, emphasizing the growing collaboration between India and Armenia in capability building and training.

According to the Ministry, he encouraged further ties between defense training institutions of India and Armenia to strengthen the defense partnership.