New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): A 90-member contingent of the Indian Army departed for France on Tuesday to participate in the 8th edition of the India-France Joint Military Exercise ‘Shakti’, scheduled to take place from June 18 to July 1 at Camp Larzac in La Cavalerie, France.
According to a release by the Ministry of Defence, the Indian contingent primarily comprises personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, along with representatives from various arms and services. The French Army will be represented by a contingent of equal strength from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE).
Exercise Shakti, a biennial military engagement between the two countries, is designed to enhance interoperability, operational coordination, and the military-to-military relationship between India and France. The 2025 edition will focus on joint counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional setting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, with training to be conducted in semi-urban terrain.
The exercise will allow troops from both nations to rehearse and refine tactical drills, exchange best practices in Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), and train with contemporary military technologies and next-generation equipment. The training will also test physical endurance, foster esprit de corps, and strengthen mutual respect and camaraderie among the personnel.
“The exercise will provide a platform for both contingents to rehearse and refine tactical drills, share best practices in TTPs, train on new-generation equipment, and strengthen physical endurance. It will also foster esprit de corps, mutual respect, and professional camaraderie between the two armies,” the Ministry’s statement read.
Highlighting the growing defence cooperation between the two nations, the Ministry underscored the strategic importance of Exercise Shakti as part of a broader Indo-French partnership in regional and global security.
The Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army also announced the departure on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The Indian Army contingent has departed today for France to participate in the 8th edition of Exercise Shakti, taking place in La Cavalerie, France, from 18 June to 01 July 2025. The exercise will foster synergy and interoperability in the conduct of counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain.”
The previous edition of the exercise was held from May 13 to May 26, 2024, in the Umroi region of Meghalaya, India. (ANI)
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