Today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III held a meeting with Armenian Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan. This marks the first such meeting between the defense leaders in twenty years. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided details of the discussions.

During the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed the strategic partnership between their countries and emphasized their shared goal of achieving lasting peace in the South Caucasus region. The conversation also covered ongoing and future security cooperation efforts, which include military education and professionalization, institutional capacity-building, and training initiatives.

The dialogue underscores a commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and fostering stability in the region through collaborative efforts.