Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan was accorded a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour by the Armenian Armed Forces during his official visit to Yerevan, marking a key moment in the expanding defence engagement between India and Armenia. The welcome included an impressive military band display.
“General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff #CDS, was accorded a ceremonial welcome by the Armenian Armed Forces, including an impressive Guard of Honour and military band display, in Yerevan,” Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) said in a post on X.
With an aim and shared commitment to deepen strategic partnership and promote mutual capability development, CDS General Chauhan also interacted with Lt Gen Edward Asryan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces to explore avenues to further enhance defence cooperation between the two Nations.
CDS Anil Chauhan: What it means for India-Armenia defence ties?
HQ IDS said the visit underlines the deepening strategic partnership and enduring friendship between the two nations, which share historically rooted and people-to-people ties. The four-day official visit is aimed at advancing shared strategic interests and enhancing long-term defence and security cooperation.
The Indian defence delegation, led by General Chauhan, arrived in Armenia on Sunday (February 1, 2026) and was received by Ms Nilakshi Saha Sinha, Ambassador of India to Armenia, and Maj Gen Temur Shahnazaryan, Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.
General Chauhan also led the Indian Delegation for an office call on with Armenian Defence Minister His Excellency Mr Suren Papkyan. Discussions focused on strengthening Defence Cooperation across range of security issues concerning both the Nations, HQ IDS informed on Tuesday (February 3, 2026).
Why did the CDS visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial?
As part of the visit, General Chauhan paid tributes and laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum, honouring the memory of 1.5 million Armenians who lost their lives.
“General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff #CDS, laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum in Yerevan, honoring the memory of 1.5 million Armenians who lost their lives in the genocide,” HQ IDS said, noting that the memorial stands as a testament to human suffering, resilience, and the universal importance of remembrance, justice and peace.
What defence discussions are on the agenda?
During the visit, the CDS held detailed discussions with Lieutenant General Edward Asryan, engaging in a tête-à-tête on defence matters of mutual interest. Officials said the talks are part of ongoing efforts to broaden cooperation across military engagement, capacity building, and strategic dialogue.
Moreover, he inaugurated IT Lab and Distance Learning Centre at Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia at Yerevan, after a visit to the National Defence Research University, where he addressed faculty and students on the evolving global security environment, structural transformation and emergence of technology as a key determinant of power.
How does this visit fit into wider defence engagement?
The Yerevan visit forms part of a series of sustained defence engagements between India and Armenia. This includes the Joint Working Group Meeting on Defence Cooperation held in Hyderabad, Telangana, on October 23, 2025, where both sides explored ways to strengthen bilateral defence ties.
HQ IDS said the CDS’s visit represents a significant step forward in institutionalising defence cooperation and reinforcing India’s growing strategic footprint in the region.