Yerevan, August 19: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh concluded a two-day official visit to Armenia from August 17–18, 2026, holding high-level discussions aimed at expanding defence cooperation, military-technical collaboration and defence research between India and Armenia.
During the visit, Singh held bilateral meetings with Armenia’s Deputy Defence Minister Karen Brutyan and First Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of General Staff Edward Asryan.
🤝 Focus on Military & Defence Cooperation
The discussions covered the full range of ongoing India–Armenia defence cooperation, with particular emphasis on:
- Capacity building
- Military training
- Military-technical cooperation
- Defence research and development
- Innovation and joint collaboration
The two sides also exchanged Terms of Reference for institutionalising Joint Services Staff Talks between the Indian and Armenian Armed Forces.
The proposed mechanism is expected to provide a structured platform for regular professional military dialogue and further strengthen cooperation between the two defence establishments.
🧪 Push for Defence R&D and Innovation
A significant development during the visit was the conclusion and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian and Armenian Defence Ministries to expand cooperation in joint collaboration, innovation and research.
Singh also met Armenia’s Minister of Hi-Tech Industry Davit Tradevosyan, with discussions focusing on proposals related to defence research and development.
The growing emphasis on technology and innovation reflects India’s and Armenia’s efforts to expand their defence relationship beyond conventional military-technical cooperation.
🇮🇳🇦🇲 Armenia Seeks Broader Defence Partnerships
Singh also held discussions with Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the bilateral defence partnership.
The talks explored new avenues for military-technical cooperation, an area that has become increasingly important as Armenia seeks to diversify its defence procurement and build broader international partnerships.
India has emerged as an important partner for Armenia in military-technical cooperation, with both countries also sharing perspectives on strategic autonomy and multilateralism.
🎓 Indian-Assisted IT Lab at Armenian Military Academy
As part of the visit, the Defence Secretary visited the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy in Armenia.
He interacted with the Academy’s leadership and faculty and visited an IT laboratory established with Indian assistance.
Singh highlighted the importance of capacity building and training as key pillars of India’s defence partnership with Armenia.
The visit demonstrated how bilateral cooperation is increasingly extending into areas such as training, technology and institutional development.
🌍 Wider Strategic Engagement
The Defence Secretary also met Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan in Yerevan.
The discussions focused on the expanding defence relationship and wider bilateral issues, with both sides noting areas of convergence on regional and global matters.
India and Armenia share an interest in maintaining strategic autonomy and strengthening cooperation through multilateral platforms.
🚀 Taking the Partnership to the Next Level
The two-day visit highlighted the growing strategic convergence between India and Armenia and reinforced the momentum in their defence relationship.
With cooperation expanding across military training, defence technology, R&D, innovation, capacity building and military-technical cooperation, the latest engagement is expected to provide a foundation for deeper institutional and operational ties.
The visit reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to take their already robust defence partnership to the next level, while creating new opportunities for cooperation in emerging defence technologies and military capabilities.