INDIA FRANCE JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE: SHAKTI 2025

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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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