Images posted on social media showed French armored vehicles in the port of Poti, Georgia. A Senate report confirms the deployment of armored vehicles.
France will “not let go” of Armenia, Emmanuel Macron assured on October 11, after the conquest of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) by Azerbaijan, which is now accused of “ethnic cleansing”. To prevent a future attack, Paris sent 24 front-line armored vehicles (VAB), MK3, of the Arquus brand, known as Bastion, according to a Senate report. To this should be added “26 other vehicles of the same type currently in production,” says this report on the senatorial opinion published as part of the Finance Law for 2024 by Hugues Saury and Hélène Conway-Mouret.
This report confirms the accuracy of several images circulating on social media showing Bastion in the port of Poti, Georgia. These vehicles were transported to Armenia by rail. These 12.5 ton vehicles can accommodate 10 people, including 8 in the back, and are equipped with a 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun. However, the armor primarily protects against shrapnel, mines and 7.62 mm caliber ammunition.
Catherine Colonna, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on October 3, during her visit to Yerevan, the Armenian capital, “gave her consent” to the supply of military equipment to Armenia “so that the country can ensure its defense.” In return, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, announced on October 23 a contract between Thalès, the missile manufacturer MBDA and Armenia. “There is talk of a delivery of MISTRAL 3 surface-to-air missiles,” the senators specify.
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France is accused by Azerbaijan of being involved in “an escalation”.
The Armenian Army had acquired three Ground Master (GM200) radars from Thales, which can detect enemy aircraft from a distance of 250 kilometers, regardless of whether they fly at low altitudes like drones or at high altitudes like fighter jets. On September 26, France announced that it would “increase its defense cooperation with Armenia.” “A defense attaché will be present at the French embassy in Yerevan,” the Quai d’Orsay said. These agreements do not suit the taste of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who accused France of engaging in “escalation”. “If a new conflict were to arise in the region, France would be responsible for provoking it,” he added.
The southern Syunik region is openly coveted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to achieve territorial continuity with the Nakichevan exclave through the creation of the “Zangezour Corridor”. Ultimately, this would realize an old pan-Turkish dream of the “Turkish World,” which would connect Turkey and Azerbaijan with Central Asia. After the fall of Artsakh in October, many observers fear an offensive by Baku in this region.
The 2020 ceasefire agreement following the victorious Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh provided for an Armenian guarantee of economic and transport links between the two parts of Azerbaijan separated by Armenia via Syunik. But Baku rejects Armenian sovereignty over this “Zangezour Corridor”. Additionally, this region, which also contains copper, zinc and molybdenum, would cut off Yerevan from its Iranian ally. Tehran has said it will protect Armenia’s territorial integrity.