The opening ceremony of the Franco-Indian military exercise, scheduled for 13 May, will be attended by dignitaries, Indian media reported.
The seventh India-France joint military exercise “Shakti” will commence from 13 to 26 May at the joint training hub in Umroi, Meghalaya.
HE Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France, Brigadier General Mayur Shekatkar, Commander of 24 Mountain Brigade, and several other senior military and civilian dignitaries will be present at the ceremony. During the Shakti, the focus will be on achieving several key objectives.
The biggest focus will be on joint planning, involving joint development of strategy, tactics and operational plans by both the Indian and French militaries.
The exercise will also prioritise building mutual understanding during operations, building common knowledge, awareness and familiarisation with each other’s operational procedures.
The exercise will also address critical aspects of coordinating joint operations in a counter-terrorism environment in line with the UN mandate.
Participating soldiers will undergo rigorous combat and tactical training, including firearms training and “battle hardening”.
Overall, the exercise is aimed not only at strengthening ties between the armed forces of India and France, but also at enhancing their preparedness to fight terrorism and ensure global peace and security.
The close defence relationship between India and France was demonstrated when a contingent of 269 Indian Armed Forces personnel from three branches of the armed forces participated in the Bastille Day parade in Paris on July 14, 2023. Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force participated in the flyover during the parade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the guest of honour.
Defence cooperation between the two sides is addressed through the Annual Defence Dialogue at the level of Defence Secretary and the Secretary-level High Committee on Defence Cooperation. The Fifth Annual Ministerial Defence Dialogue was held on 11 October 2023 in Paris.
