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India and Armenia Sign MoU to Expand Defence Innovation and Research Cooperation
The visit focused on military technical cooperation, capacity building, training and defence research, with both sides also moving to strengthen institutional mechanisms for closer military engagement.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has concluded his two-day visit to Armenia, during which he held a series of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening India-Armenia defence cooperation.
During the visit, Singh met Armenia’s Deputy Defence Minister Karen Brutyan and First Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of General Staff Edward Asryan. Discussions covered ongoing defence and military technical cooperation, with particular focus on capacity building, training, military technical cooperation, and defence research and development.
The two sides also exchanged the Terms of Reference for institutionalising Joint Services Staff Talks between the Indian and Armenian Armed Forces, marking an effort to establish a more structured mechanism for military-to-military engagement.
Singh also met Armenia’s Minister of Hi-tech Industry Davit Tradevosyan to discuss proposals related to defence research and development. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Defence Ministries was concluded and signed to expand cooperation in joint collaboration, innovation and research.
The Defence Secretary also called on Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral defence ties and explored new avenues for military technical cooperation.
In Yerevan, Singh held a meeting with Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan, with discussions focusing on the expanding defence partnership between the two countries.
The Defence Ministry said Armenia’s efforts to diversify its defence procurement have contributed to India’s emergence as a major partner in military technical cooperation. The visit, it added, reflected increasing convergence between India and Armenia on bilateral, regional and global issues.
