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India Gazette
12 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Army contingent departs for France to take part in joint exercise 'Shakti 2025'
New Delhi [India], June 16 (ANI): The Indian Army contingent on Monday left for France to participate in the eighth edition of the Indo-French joint military Exercise 'Shakti' that will take place in France's La Cavalerie from 18 June to 01 July 2025. In an official statement, the Army said, '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.' Exercise Shakti is an annual military training engagement conducted alternately in India and France. Last year, the seventh edition of Exercise Shakti was conducted at Umroi in Meghalaya from 13 to 26 May 2024. It was held at a 'fully developed and modern Foreign Training Node'. Underlining the diplomatic and military importance of the event, the Ministry of Defence in an official statement said, 'The Opening Ceremony of the joint exercise was attended by H.E. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India and Major General Prasanna Sudhakar Joshi, General Officer Commanding 51 Sub Area.' The Indian contingent for the 2024 edition comprised 90 personnel, mainly from a Battalion of the Rajput Regiment, with additional participation from other arms and services. Observers from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force were also part of the exercise. The French contingent, also consisting of 90 personnel, was represented mainly by soldiers from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE), the MoD statement added. Outlining the broader aim of the exercise, the Ministry said,' Aim of Exercise SHAKTI is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake multi-domain operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The joint exercise will focus on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrain.' 'Objectives to be achieved from the joint training are a high degree of physical fitness, rehearsing and refining drills for operations at the tactical level and sharing of best practices,' the MoD added. Key tactical elements to be practised during the joint exercise include responses to terrorist actions involving the capture of defined territory, setting up of a Joint Command Post and an Intelligence & Surveillance Centre, and securing of landing sites. The exercise will also feature Small Team Insertion and Extraction drills, Special Heliborne Operations, Cordon and Search Operations, as well as the deployment of drones and counter-drone systems. The Ministry added: 'Exercise SHAKTI will enable the two sides to share their best practices in Tactics, Techniques and Procedures of conducting joint operations. The joint exercise will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between armed forces personnel of the two countries. This will also enhance the level of defence cooperation, further fostering bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.' (ANI)
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
India-France to hold 8th edition of 'Exercise Shakti' from June 18
New Delhi [India], June 12 (ANI): The 8th edition of Exercise Shakti, a joint military exercise between India and France, will take place from June 18 to July 1 at La Cavalerie in France. In a post on X, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG-PI) stated that the joint military exercise aims to improve coordination and teamwork between the two armies and prepare for missions in challenging situations. 'Exercise #Shakti 2025, The 8th edition of Exercise #Shakti, a joint military exercise between #India and #France is scheduled from 18 June to 01 July 2025 at #LaCavalerie, #France,' the post reads. 'The aim of the exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake Multi Domain Operations in a Sub Conventional scenario. The joint exercise will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between Armies of both the Nations,' the post further reads. Exercise Shakti is an annual joint military drill conducted by the armies of both nations to enhance interoperability and coordination in tactical operations. Last year, the 7th edition of the India-France Joint Military Exercise 'Shakti' commenced on May 13 at the Joint Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. The exercise aimed to enhance the joint military capacity of both sides to undertake Multi-Domain Operations in a sub-conventional scenario. According to an official release from the Public Relations Officer (PRO) Defence, Guwahati, the exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 13 to 26 May. The Opening Ceremony of the joint exercise was attended by Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India and Major General Prasanna Sudhakar Joshi, General Officer Commanding 51 Sub Area. Exercise SHAKTI is a biennial training event conducted alternately in India and France. The last edition was conducted in France in November 2021. Indian contingent comprising 90 personnel is being represented primarily by a Battalion of the RAJPUT Regiment besides personnel from other arms and services. Observers from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force will also form part of the exercise. The French contingent comprising 90 personnel will be represented mainly by personnel from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE). 'The Aim of Exercise SHAKTI is to enhance the joint military capability of both sides to undertake multi-domain operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate,' the release added. (ANI)
