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{{Infobox bilateral relations
| map = Armenia India Locator.png
| filetype = png
| mission1 = Armenian embassy, [[New Delhi]]
| mission2 = Indian embassy, [[Yerevan]]
| Armenia–India|Armenia|India}}

International relations between [[Armenia]] and [[India]] have been described as friendly. The two countries share a strong burgeoning relationship in economics, culture, military and technology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayrapetyan |first=Lilit |date=October 20, 2021 |title=India's Turn Toward Armenia |url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/10/indias-turn-toward-armenia/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=The Diplomat |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2022, it was reported that the two nations were exploring possibilities of long-term military cooperation.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-07-05 |title=India, Armenia Exploring Long-term Military Cooperation • MassisPost |url=https://massispost.com/2022/07/india-armenia-exploring-long-term-military-cooperation/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=MassisPost |language=en-US}}</ref> Armenia has an embassy in [[New Delhi]]. India has an embassy in [[Yerevan]].

==History==

===Early history===
[[Armenians]] are believed to have traveled to India, when some Armenians joined the auxiliary elements of the forces under the command of [[Alexander the Great]] when he crossed Armenia en route to India. The earliest documented references to the mutual relationship of Armenians and Indians are found in [[Cyropaedia]] ([[Persian Empire|Persian]] Expedition), an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] work by [[Xenophon]] (430 BC – 355 BC). These references indicate that several Armenians travelled to India, and they were well aware of land routes to reach India, as also the general and political geography, socio-cultural milieu, and economic life of the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070320082701/http://www.indianembassy.am/eng/india_arm_partners.html India and Armenia Partners - Embassy of India in Armenia [ENG]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first= |url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Xen.%20Cyrop.%203.%202&lang=original#note8 |title=Cyropaedia |year= |volume=3 |chapter=2 |quote="Cyrus heard that the Chaldaeans made frequent trips to the Indian king"}}</ref>

An archive directory (published 1956) in [[Delhi]] states that Armenian merchant-cum-diplomat [[Thomas of Cana]] arrived on the [[Malabar Coast]] in 780 AD using the overland route. Thomas was an affluent merchant dealing chiefly in [[spice]]s and [[muslin]]s. He was also instrumental in obtaining a [[decree]], inscribed on a [[intaglio printing|copperplate]], from the [[Chera Dynasty]], which conferred several [[commerce|commercial]], [[social]] and [[religious]] privileges for the regional [[Saint Thomas Christians]]. In current local references, Thomas of Cana is known as ''Knayi Thomman'' or ''Kanaj Tomma'', meaning "Thomas the merchant". Armenians had trade relations with several parts of India, and by the 7th century a few Armenian settlements had appeared in the present-day state of [[Kerala]] on the Malabar Coast. Armenians controlled a large part of the international trade of the area, particularly in [[Gemstone|precious stones]] and quality [[Textile|fabrics]].<ref name="hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/merchants-on-a-mission/article4970153.ece|author=Anusha Parthasarathy|title=Merchants on a mission|date=30 July 2013|access-date=25 December 2013|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu}}</ref>

===Medieval history===
[[Mughal Empire|Mughal emperor]] [[Akbar]] (1556–1605), invited Armenians to settle in [[Agra]] in the 16th century,<ref>[http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/julfa-v-armenians-in-india Julfa v. Armenians in India]</ref> and by the middle of the 19th century, Agra had a sizeable Armenian population. Armenian traders visited Agra during the Mughal Empire. By an imperial decree, Armenian merchants were exempted from paying taxes on the merchandise imported and exported by them, and they were also allowed to move around in the areas of the Mughal Empire where entry of [[Alien (law)|foreigner]]s was otherwise prohibited. In 1562, an [[Armenian Apostolic Church|Armenian Church]] was constructed in Agra. From the 16th century onwards, the Armenians (mostly from [[Persian Empire|Persia]]) formed an important trading community in [[Surat]], the most active Indian [[port]] of that period, located on the western coast of India. The port city of Surat used to have regular sea borne to and fro [[traffic]] of merchant [[Ship|vessels]] from [[Basra]] (in present-day Iraq) and [[Bandar Abbas]] (in present-day Iran). Armenians built two Churches and a [[cemetery]] in Surat. A [[tombstone]] in the city, dating back to 1579, bears Armenian [[inscription]]s. The second Church was built in 1778 and was dedicated to [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Mary]]. An Armenian language [[manuscript]] written in 1678, currently preserved in Saltikov-Shchedrin Library, [[St. Petersburg]], has an account of a permanent [[colony]] of Armenians in Surat. The Armenians settled in [[Chinsurah]], near [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]], and in 1697 built a Church there. This is the second oldest Church in [[Bengal]] and is still in well preserved on account of the care of the Calcutta Armenian Church Committee.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} In 1712, the Armenian Church of Chennai was built and there was a significant Armenian community in Chennai with valuable contributions to the city. Most notable was [[Coja Petrus Uscan]] who built the Marmalong bridge as charity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Armenia Virtual Museum - Armenia in India A Cultural Legacy - Armenian Cultural Centre Chennai |url=https://cognishift.org/armenia-virtual-museum/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=CogniShift.Org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Modern history===
Indian President [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] visited the [[Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic]] in September 1964, and Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] visited in June 1976.<ref name="Embassy Archive">{{cite web|title=ARMENIA-INDIA BILATERAL RELATIONS|url=http://www.indianembassy.am/relation.html|website=www.indianembassy.am|access-date=16 May 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028080319/http://www.indianembassy.am/relation.html|archive-date=28 October 2011}}</ref>

India recognized Armenia on 26 December 1991, three months after it declared independence from the [[Soviet Union]]. [[Diplomacy|Diplomatic relations]] between India and Armenia were established on 31 August 1992. India opened its embassy in [[Yerevan]] on 1 March 1999. Armenia, which had opened an [[Consul (representative)|honorary consulate]] in April 1994, established its embassy in [[New Delhi]] in October 1999.<ref name="MEA India">{{Cite web|author=|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/portal/foreignrelation/armenia-july-2012.pdf|title=INDIA - ARMENIA RELATIONS
|publisher=Ministry of External Affairs, India}}</ref>

Armenian Presidents [[Levon Ter-Petrosyan]], [[Robert Kocharyan]] and [[Serzh Sargsyan]] visited India in 1995, 2003 and 2017 respectively.<ref name="MFA Armenia">{{Cite web|author=|url=https://www.mfa.am/en/bilateral-relations/in|title=Bilateral Relations
|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Armenia}}</ref>

In 2019 after an interview with [[WION (TV channel)|WION]], [[Prime minister|Prime Minister]] [[Nikol Pashinyan]] has stated that Armenia supports [[India]] in the [[Kashmir conflict]] between India and Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=We fully defend Indian position: Armenia PM Nikol Pashinyan on Jammu and Kashmir|url=https://www.wionews.com/world/we-fully-defend-indian-position-armenia-pm-nikol-pashinyan-on-jammu-and-kashmir-252249|access-date=2021-02-09|website=WION|language=en}}</ref>

Armenia signed an agreement to purchase four [[Swathi Weapon Locating Radar]]s for US$40 million from India in March 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=India pips Russia, Poland to secure $40 million defence deal with Armenia |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/economy-politics/story/india-pips-russia-poland-to-secure-40-million-defence-deal-to-armenia-251102-2020-03-01 |website=Business Today |access-date=30 September 2022 |language=en |date=1 March 2020}}</ref> In September 2022, Armenia signed an agreement worth {{INRConvert|2000|c}} to purchase four batteries of [[Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher]]s, anti-tank rockets, and various types of ammunition from India.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pubby |first1=Manu |title=Arming Armenia: India to export missiles, rockets and ammunition |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/arming-armenia-india-to-export-missiles-rockets-and-ammunition/articleshow/94518414.cms |website=The Economic Times |access-date=30 September 2022}}</ref> Since 2022, India is also supplying anti-drone systems, [[ATAGS]] towed howitzers, TC-20 (MARG) Wheeled self-propelled howitzers,<ref name="FE">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=21 November 2023|title=Armenia Strengthens Defence capabilities with India's MArG 155mm howitzers|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-armenia-strengthens-defence-capabilities-with-indias-marg-155mm-howitzers-3312545/|newspaper=Financial Express|access-date= 21 August 2024}}</ref> Ashwin Ballistic Missile Interceptors, and [[Akash (missile)|Akash air defence missiles]] to Armenia.<ref name="RCDS">{{Cite web|author=|url=https://rcds.am/en/assessing-armenias-military-diversification-efforts-partnerships-with-india-and-france.html|title=ASSESSING ARMENIA'S MILITARY DIVERSIFICATION EFFORTS: PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDIA AND FRANCE|publisher=Regional Center for Democracy and Security}}</ref>

==Armenian community in India==
{{main|Armenians in India}}

== Cultural relationship ==
{|
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Stamp of Armenia - 2018 - Colnect 806144 - Hov Arek Armenian Dance.jpeg|thumb|[[Armenian dance|Hov Arek Armenian Dance]], the national dance of Armenia]]
|-
|[[File:Stamp of Armenia - 2018 - Colnect 806145 - Indian Dance Manipuri.jpeg|thumb|[[Manipuri classical dance|Indian Classical Dance "Manipuri"]]]]
|}
Armenia and India organised a joint issuing of postage stamps, illustrating the cultural heritage of the two nations. The Indian [[Manipuri classical dance]] of [[Meitei civilization]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dance {{!}} Ministry of Culture, Government of India |url=https://www.indiaculture.gov.in/dance |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=www.indiaculture.gov.in}}</ref> and the Armenian [[Armenian dance|Hov Arek]], are referred to as the "National Dances" (of India and Armenia respectively) during the Armenia-India joint issue of postage stamps.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two new postage stamps celebrate Armenian, Indian national dances |url=https://panarmenian.net/m/eng/news/259456 |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=panarmenian.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Two new postage stamps dedicated to "Armenia-India joint issue. National dances" theme |url=https://www.lragir.am/en/2018/08/29/69092}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Two new postage stamps celebrate Armenian, Indian national dances |url=https://www.newsinfo.am/eng/article/view/EkDbYf9yDr |access-date=2023-12-09 |website=www.newsinfo.am}}</ref> In 2025, Indian author Dr. Prashant Madanmohan organized the ''Indo-Armenian-French Art & Literary Confluence'' in Chennai, showcasing cultural unity through literature and art, including themes of memory, identity, and the Armenian Genocide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=P |first=Apurva |date=2025-05-10 |title=This art exhibition by Mari Poghosyan explores cross-cultural memories and identity |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/art/2025/May/10/this-art-exhibition-by-mari-poghosyan-explores-cross-cultural-memories-and-identity |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=Indulgexpress |language=en}}</ref>

== Armenian genocide recognition ==
{{See also|Armenian genocide recognition}}
India has not recognized the [[Armenian genocide]]. However, during World War I, when [[British Raj|India was under British colonial rule]], the country found itself at war against the [[Ottoman Empire]], the predecessor of Turkey. Many Armenians sought refuge in India, most notably in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/armenia-still-lives-in-the-heart-of-kolkata/articleshow/51962323.cms|title=Armenia still lives in the heart of Kolkata | Kolkata News - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=April 24, 2016 }}</ref> With the relations between India and Turkey worsening since the 2010s, mainly due to Turkey's open support for [[Pakistan]], which shares a similar stance with Turkey, there have been growing calls for recognition of the Armenian genocide in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://idsa.in/idsacomments/india-hyphenates-turkey_prkumaraswamy_280417|title = India Hyphenates Turkey | Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses}}</ref> For the first time, under the [[Premiership of Narendra Modi]], the Indian embassy in Armenia has mentioned the genocide and Indian ambassador Kishan Dan Dewal also paid respect to the victims of the genocide in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1050543.html|title = Indian Embassy in Armenia uses term "genocide" for the first time: Ambassador paid homage to victims at Yerevan Memorial | date=27 April 2021 }}</ref>

==Resident diplomatic missions==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Armenia
*[[New Delhi]] (Embassy)
{{col-2}}
;India
*[[Yerevan]] (Embassy)
{{col-end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Politics}}
* [[Armenian Church, Chennai]]
* [[Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist]]
* [[Armenian cemetery in Hyderabad]]
* [[Armenians in India]]
* [[Hinduism in Armenia]]
* [[India–Russia relations]]
* [[Armenia–Pakistan relations]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Foreign relations of Armenia}}
{{Foreign relations of India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Armenia-India relations}}
[[Category:Armenia–India relations| ]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Armenia|India]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India]]

Armenia–India relations - Revision history

Aptechguwahatiaz: Creating Article