Describing France-India defence relationship as an exceptional one, the Ambassador of France to India, Thierry Mathou said that when it comes to defence, both the countries share a real, strategic intimacy.

Mathou added that the defence cooperation between both nations is multifaceted, and includes high-level bilateral and multilateral military exercises.

The Ambassador termed the defence partnership between France and India ‘dynamic’ and added, “In January 2024, a bilateral Defence Industrial Roadmap was endorsed with the aim of prioritising co-designing, co-development, co-production of defence equipment and the strengthening of our supply chains. Since then, our defence companies have been making progress.”

Mathou’s statement came as a response to a question on whether there is any new pact or agreement in the defence sector between the two countries, going forward.

Mathou also mentioned the recently concluded ‘Exercise Varuna,’ a bilateral naval drill held in Toulon. This exercise exemplified the close maritime collaboration between France and India, reinforcing their shared commitment to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA’, which began in 2001, is the backbone of the India-France relationship and has evolved significantly over the years towards enhancing interoperability and exchanging best practices.

Mathou highlighted the exceptional depth of the France-India partnership, which spans defence, space, industry, climate action, biodiversity, and culture. He emphasized that the strategic partnership, established in 1998, has grown stronger over the last 25 years, regardless of political transitions in both countries.

He also noted the recent visit by India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, who met with French President Emmanuel Macron, French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, and other officials to discuss defence cooperation, including Rafale Marine and Scorpene submarines, as well as global issues like the Ukraine conflict.

(ANI)