India French Military Exercise Shakti 2024 to be held in Meghalaya

Joint military Exercise Shakti between the Indian and the French forces will be held at the Joint Training Node of the Indian Army in Umroi, Meghalaya, from 13 -26 May 2024. The opening ceremony of the 7th edition of Exercise Shakti will be attended by the French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou. Brigadier Mayur Shekatkar, Commander of the 24 Mountain Brigade, and other civilian and military dignitaries.

Shakti military exercise between India and France 

The military exercise between the Indian Army and the French Army is a biennial exercise which started in 2011 and is conducted alternately in India and France.

The 6th edition of the military exercise Shakti was held in France from 15-26 November 2021.  Thus, it was India’s turn to host the next exercise.

The 7th edition will be hosted by India at the Joint Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, from 13 -26 May 2024.

Aim of the 7th military Exercise Shakti 

A battalion of the Rajput regiment is representing the Indian side. The Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force have also sent observers for Exercise Shakti. The French contingent, comprising 90 personnel, will be represented mainly by personnel from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE).

The main aim of the 7th edition of the Shakti exercise will be to develop the capacity of both forces for joint planning on developing strategies and tactics for a war-like situation. 

The exercise aims at enhancing cooperation, understanding, and interoperability between the two Armies. 

Emphasis will be on developing an understanding of operations, and building shared knowledge, awareness, and familiarity with each other's operational procedures.

The joint exercise will facilitate both armies to know each other better and share their wide experiences and combat experience in countering terrorist operations,

Varuna and Garuda  Military exercises between India and France

Besides the Shakti exercises, India and France conducted Naval Exercise Varuna and Air Force Exercise Garuda.

Varuna Exercise 

• It is a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the French, conducted alternately in the Indian Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea.
• If India hosts the exercise, it is held in the Indian Ocean, and if the French Navy hosts it, it is held in the Mediterranean Sea.
• The Varuna exercise was started in 1983, but the name Varuna was first used in 2001.
• The 21st edition was held in the Arabian Sea in 2023.

Exercise Garuda 

• It is a joint Air Force exercise between the Indian Air Force and the French Air Force.
•  It was started in 2003 and is held alternatively in India and France.
•  It is normally held after two years.
• The 7th Garuda exercise was held at Jodhpur, Rajasthan in 2022. 

India-France Military Relations  

• France is India's major defence partner. It is the second-largest supplier of military hardware to India after Russia. 
• France is the only western country which has agreed to share defence technologies with India and production of French military hardware in India. 
• During the 2023 G 20 meeting held in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on a shared goal to collaborate in designing, developing, testing, and manufacturing advanced defence technologies and platforms to enable India to achieve self-reliance in the military sector.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and France-based Safran Helicopter Engines SAS have formed a joint venture, Safhal Helicopter Engines Pvt Ltd, to collectively design, develop, certify, produce, sell, and support helicopter engines. 
• France has supplied Rafale fighter planes to the Indian Force, and India has agreed to buy  26 more for the Indian Navy.