India’s top military chief visits Armenia for defence talks

(Horizon Weekly / YEREVAN) – Chief of Defence Staff of India, General Anil Chauhan, has led a senior defence delegation to Armenia on a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral military cooperation and long-term security ties between the two countries.

The visit marks the highest level of Indian military engagement with Armenia to date and is the first known official visit by a serving Indian military chief to Armenia. Indian defence authorities confirmed that General Chauhan arrived in Yerevan on Sunday to hold talks focused on shared strategic interests and expanded defence cooperation.

According to official sources, discussions are expected to cover areas including joint development and production of military systems, deeper industrial cooperation, and long-term defence planning. The visit reflects the steady growth of defence relations between India and Armenia in recent years, driven by Armenia’s security needs and India’s efforts to expand its role as a defence exporter.

The two countries have strengthened their institutional dialogue through regular exchanges, including a Joint Working Group Meeting on Defence Cooperation held in Hyderabad in October last year. That meeting led to a cooperation programme now being implemented, covering military training, expert exchanges, institutional ties and defence industry engagement.

Armenia has become one of the most significant overseas buyers of Indian defence equipment. Among the major acquisitions are the Akash-1S air defence missile system, Swathi weapon-locating radars, and the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system. In recent weeks, India also delivered the first batch of guided Pinaka rockets to Armenia.

Reports indicate that Armenia has also expressed interest in additional systems, including air-to-air missiles and possible upgrades to its fighter aircraft.

During the visit, General Chauhan met with his Armenian counterpart and accompanying military officials. Indian defence officials said the talks focused on strengthening cooperation and exploring new areas of partnership. The Armenian Defence Ministry stated that discussions covered bilateral ties as well as regional and international security issues.

Both sides highlighted the importance of military education, professional training, joint exercises and experience exchange. Armenian officials noted that cooperation with India plays an important role in the ongoing transformation of the country’s armed forces.

India has emerged as one of Armenia’s leading arms suppliers since the 2020 war in Nagorno Karabakh. By the end of 2023, defence contracts between the two countries were estimated at approximately $ 600 million, according to Indian media reports.

The latest visit reflects the growing strategic partnership between India and Armenia and signals continued engagement in defence and security cooperation.