Admiral
Sunil Lanba, Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Naval Staff
is visiting France on a bilateral visit from 05 to 10 November 2017. The visit
aims to consolidate cooperation between the Armed Forces of both India and
France and also to explore new avenues of defence cooperation.
During his
visit, the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and
Chief of the Naval Staff will hold bilateral
discussions with Her Excellency Ms Florence Parly, Hon’ble Defence Minister of
France, General Francois Lecointre, Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Christophe
Prazuck, Chief of French Navy, General Joel Barre, Director General Armament
and Vice Admiral Hervede Bonnaventure, Director General International
Relations and strategy.
In-addition
to holding important bilateral discussions, the Admiral will be visiting the
Maritime Prefectures at Brest and Cherbourg, and be conducted around the
Maritime operations Centre. He will also visit the French Airbase at
Landivisiau, where he will be briefed on the operational employability of the
Rafale aircraft by the French Air Force, and also visit the French Submarine
Facility at Cherbourg.
India
and France have traditionally maintained close and friendly relations. The two
countries established a Strategic Partnership in 1998, thereby significantly
enhancing bilateral cooperation in strategic areas such as defence, nuclear
energy and space. The Defence relationship between the two countries has been
one of mutual trust and confidence. India has been importing critical defence
technologies from France; the latest being the Rafale fighter aircraft for the
Indian Air Forces and the Scorpene submarines for the Indian Navy.
The
Indian Navy cooperates with the French Navy on many issues, which include
operational interactions such as the VARUNA series of bilateral exercises,
training exchanges, exchange of White Shipping Information and Subject Matter
Experts in various fields through the medium of Staff Talks.Warships from
Indian Navy have been regularly visiting ports at France, with IN ships Mumbai,
Trishul and Aditya making port call at Toulon from 24 to 27 April 2017. The
French Navy ship Auvergne, a FREMM Class Frigate, also visited the Indian Naval
Base at Karwar from 02 to 06 October 2017.
The
Indian Army and Air Force also maintain robust cooperation with the French Army
and Air Force. The Indian Army conducts the biennial exercise SHAKTI with the
French Army, whilst the Indian Air Force conducts the GARUDA series of
exercises annually. Both the Services also carryout exchanges of Subject Matter
Experts and pursue a structured cooperation mechanism through the medium of
Staff Talks of their respective Services.
DKS/GY
