France has signed a contract to sell CAESAR self-propelled howitzers to Armenia, as the latter deepens its military ties with the West and distances itself from its traditional ally, Russia.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced the deal on Tuesday via X (formerly Twitter), following a meeting with his Armenian counterpart, Suren Papikyan. However, Lecornu did not disclose the number of howitzers included in the contract.

France, which has a significant Armenian diaspora, has traditionally been one of Yerevan’s strongest European supporters. The sale marks a notable shift as Armenia pivots diplomatically and militarily towards Western nations.

This shift comes amid accusations from Yerevan that Moscow has failed to protect it from its long-time rival, Azerbaijan. Russia has rebuffed these accusations and cautioned Armenia against strengthening ties with the West.

The deal follows a significant regional development in September 2023, when Azerbaijan reclaimed its breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. This victory concluded a conflict that had persisted for over three decades, leading to a mass exodus of the province's ethnic Armenian population.

The CAESAR howitzer deal signifies Armenia's ongoing strategic realignment and highlights France's commitment to bolstering its defense cooperation with Yerevan amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region. (ILKHA)