France and Armenia have emphasized the need for expanding their defense cooperation during high-level talks held in Paris on Friday. Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikian met with French Prime Min- ister Sebastien Le Corneille to discuss issues related to “the development and deepening of bilateral ties in the de- fense sector,” according to the Arme- nian Ministry of Defense. “The parties, particularly, empha- sized the importance of the continuous strengthening of the bilateral strategic partnership and emphasized the need to expand cooperation in the defense sector,” the ministry said in a state- ment. It added that Le Corneille present- ed Papikian with the Legion of Honor (Légion d’honneur), France’s highest civil and military order of merit, which had been awarded to him by decree of French President Emmanuel Macron. The French prime minister was quoted as praising Papikian’s “great contribu- tion to the development of Armenia- France relations.” During his visit, Papikian also held talks on March 27 with French Min- ister of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin. According to the Armenian side, the two officials agreed to “deepen and expand coop- eration, bringing it to a qualitatively new, higher level, as well as to contin- ue joint initiatives aimed at strengthen- ing defense capabilities.” France and Armenia signed agree- ments on military cooperation in Oc- tober 2023 providing for the supply of French weapons to Yerevan, including radars and missiles, as well as advisory support for army reforms. Both Yerevan and Paris have stressed the “purely defensive” char- acter of the French arms supplies. Ar- menia, which is seeking to diversify its security partnerships and reform its military, has repeatedly stated that it has no aggressive intentions towards its neighbors. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on Thursday that some of the modern weapons acquired by Armenia in recent years, which also included French equipment, will be displayed in Yerevan’s central square on May 28, when the country marks Republic Day.