INDIA FRANCE JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE: SHAKTI 2025 from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

INDIA FRANCE JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE: SHAKTI 2025

Context:

• The 8th edition of "Exercise Shakti," a biennial joint military exercise between India and France, is scheduled to be held from June 18 to July 1, 2025, at La Cavalerie in France.
• This exercise underscores the deepening strategic partnership and defence cooperation between the two nations.

KEY DETAILS OF EXERCISE SHAKTI

• Participants: Indian Army and French Army.
• Edition: 8th edition.
• Dates: June 18 to July 1, 2025.
• Location: La Cavalerie, France (Host nation for this edition).
  • Note: Exercise Shakti is a biennial exercise, alternately hosted by India and France.
  • The 7th edition was held in Umroi, Meghalaya (India) from May 13-26, 2024.

AIM OF THE EXERCISE

• To enhance the joint military capability of both sides.
• Focus on undertaking Multi-Domain Operations in a Sub-Conventional scenario.
  • Sub-Conventional Scenario: Refers to dealing with terrorism and conducting counter-terrorism operations, as defined by armed forces globally.
• To strengthen interoperability, bonhomie, and camaraderie between the Army personnel of both nations.

INDIA FRANCE MILITARY TIES France is a major defence partner for India, characterized by robust cooperation across various domains: Defence Procurement & Technology Transfer:

• Fighter Aircraft: India has procured advanced fighter planes like Mirage 2000 and Rafale from France.
• Submarines: France has licensed the production of 6 Scorpene submarines (Project 75) in India, under a technology transfer agreement.
• Engine Manufacturing: India is actively negotiating with the French company Safran to build engines for its fighter aircraft (e.g., for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft - AMCA).
• Joint Manufacturing: Dassault Aviation (French) and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (Indian) have an agreement to manufacture Rafale fuselages in India, aligning with the 'Make in India' initiative.

REGULAR BILATERAL & MULTILATERAL EXERCISES

• Bilateral Army-level Exercises:
  • Exercise Shakti:
    • First held:
    • Frequency: Biennial, alternately hosted by India and France.
    • Latest: 8th edition in France (2025), 7th edition in India (2024).
  • Frinjex Exercise:
    • First held:
    • Focus: Joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
    • Location: Held at Pangode Military Station, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (March 2023).
• Bilateral Air Force-level Exercises:
  • Garuda Exercise:
    • Conducted between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force.
    • First held: 2003.
    • Frequency: Biennial, alternately hosted by India and France.
    • Latest: 7th edition at Air Force Station Jodhpur (Oct-Nov 2022).

• Bilateral Naval Exercises:
  • Varuna Exercise:
    • Conducted jointly by the Indian Navy and the French Navy.
    • First held: 1993 (named Varuna in 2001).
    • Frequency:
    • Latest: 23rd edition in the Arabian Sea, hosted by Indian Navy (March 19, 2025).
• Multinational Exercises (with French Participation/Hosting):
  • Exercise ORION:
    • Conducted by the French Air and Space Force in France.
    • Significance: First time the Indian Air Force participated in 2023, showcasing extended reach and interoperability with NATO standards.
  • Tarang Shakti:
    • Largest-ever multinational air exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force (August-September 2024).
    • French Air and Space Force participated.
• La Pérouse Exercise:
  • • Multinational naval exercise hosted by the French Navy in the Indo-Pacific.
    • India first participated in 2021, signifying India's growing engagement in Indo-Pacific maritime security.
    • 5th edition held in Indo-Pacific (January 2025).

STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF INDIA FRANCE STRATEGIC COOPERATION

• Pillar of Strategic Partnership: Defence cooperation is a cornerstone of the India-France Strategic Partnership, which dates back to 1998.
• Geopolitical Alignment: Both nations share converging views on Indo-Pacific security, strategic autonomy, and multilateralism.
• Technology Sharing: France has been a more willing partner in sharing critical defence technology compared to some other countries.
• Interoperability: Regular exercises enhance the ability of their armed forces to operate together effectively in various scenarios, from humanitarian aid to complex multi-domain operations.
• Regional Stability: Collaboration contributes to stability and security in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.

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