India’s defence chief, General Anil Chauhan, marked a historic moment in Yerevan by laying wreaths at the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum on Monday, commemorating the tragic loss of nearly 1.5 million Armenians. Part of a strategic four-day visit, the ceremony highlighted enduring bonds of compassion amid high-level military dialogues.
Iconic features like the flame-lit cenotaph and poignant exhibits within the museum evoke the genocide’s horrors while celebrating Armenian fortitude and the global call for accountability. A post from the Integrated Defence Staff on X described the site as a beacon underscoring memory’s role in fostering justice and harmony.
The Indian team, under General Chauhan’s guidance, received a cordial reception from Ambassador Neelakshi Saha Sinha and Major General Temur Shahnazaryan. This outreach aims to deepen strategic alignment and fortify defence-security frameworks between the nations.
Bolstering this momentum, India shipped the first guided Pinaka rocket batch to Armenia recently, produced by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Pune. The deal, valued at ₹2,000 crore since September 2022, positions Armenia as the debut international purchaser of DRDO’s Pinaka MBRL arsenal, spanning various rocket types.
Unguided shipments finalized by 2024’s close, paving way for sophisticated follow-ons. Rajnath Singh hailed the consignment as evidence of India’s defence industry’s strength, marking a pivotal shift to exporter prominence and self-sufficiency.
As Caucasus geopolitics simmer, India-Armenia collaboration via Pinaka and visits like Chauhan’s enhances regional security postures. The memorial homage poignantly merges historical reverence with pragmatic partnerships, signaling India’s multifaceted engagement in global affairs and commitment to preventing history’s repeats through vigilance and alliance-building.