Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan met Armenia's Chief of the General Staff, Lt General Edvard Asryan, in New Delhi on Tuesday, 28 April, with both sides exploring avenues for joint ventures in the development of military hardware. The meeting marked a significant step in the steady advancement of India-Armenia defence relations, reaffirming a shared commitment to a future-oriented and mutually beneficial strategic partnership.

Guard of Honour and High-Level Discussions

Lt General Edvard Asryan was received by CDS General Chauhan and accorded a Guard of Honour upon his arrival. The Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff (IDS HQ) confirmed the engagement on X, noting that the discussions reflected the steady advancement of bilateral defence relations. Both sides examined specific collaboration frameworks that could translate strategic intent into actionable defence-industrial partnerships.

Key Areas of Engagement

The discussions centred on joint ventures in military hardware development, a domain that both nations have been progressively building towards. This comes amid Armenia's ongoing efforts to diversify its defence procurement and partnerships beyond its traditional suppliers. Officials indicated the engagement was not merely ceremonial — concrete pathways for collaborative equipment development were on the table.

February Visit Laid the Groundwork

Tuesday's meeting follows a substantive four-day visit by an Indian defence delegation led by General Chauhan to Armenia in February. During that trip, the CDS called on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, where discussions covered the evolving geopolitical landscape, the prevailing security environment, and emerging opportunities for bilateral defence and strategic cooperation.

The delegation also met Armenia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Abisoghomonyan, exchanging perspectives on the security environment and bilateral issues. Separately, General Chauhan led discussions with Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papkyan, focusing on strengthening defence cooperation across a range of security issues concerning both nations, according to the IDS HQ.

Address at Armenia's Defence University

General Chauhan also addressed faculty and students at the National Defence Research University (NDRU) in Armenia, speaking on the evolving global security environment, structural transformation, and the emergence of technology as a key determinant of power. He emphasised the changing nature of war and the revolution in military affairs, highlighting how technology is reshaping conflict — particularly as the world moves towards multi-domain operations spanning Cyber, Electronic Warfare (EW), Space, and Cognitive domains.

Strategic Significance

India's deepening defence engagement with Armenia is part of a broader strategy to expand its defence export footprint and build strategic partnerships in the South Caucasus region. Armenia's estrangement from Russia — its traditional security guarantor — has created openings for Indian defence manufacturers. With India's defence exports having grown substantially over the past decade, joint ventures of the kind being discussed could serve both nations' strategic and industrial interests. The next steps in formalising these frameworks are expected to be watched closely by regional security observers.