News Mania desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/29th April 2024
Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, recently concluded a comprehensive visit to France, which served to reaffirm the enduring strategic partnership between India and France while further bolstering bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations.
During his visit, General Chauhan engaged in high-level interactions with key officials, including Mr Patrick Pailloux, Director of Civil & Military Cabinet of the Minister of the French Armed Forces, and Lt Gen Vincent Giraud, Chief of Military Cabinet of the Minister of the Armed Forces. These discussions at the apex level, along with meetings with his counterpart, General Thierry Burkhard (CEMA), facilitated the exchange of views on areas of common interests and mutual security concerns.
One of the key highlights of the visit was the deliberations at France’s Directorate General of Armament aimed at enhancing the exchange of high-end dual-use technologies. General Chauhan also met with top leaders of the French Defence industry, including Dassault, Safran, Naval Groups, and Thales Alenia Space, to explore avenues for futuristic capacity building of the Indian Armed Forces, thus providing a significant boost to indigenisation efforts.
Additionally, engagements at the French Land Forces Command (CFT), the French Space Command (CDE), and the School of Military Studies (Ecole Militaire) facilitated discussions on security challenges and opportunities for enhancing defence collaboration in space, modernisation initiatives, and bilateral training between India and France.
During his visit, General Chauhan also paid tributes at the War Memorials of Neuve-Chapelle and Villers-Guislain, commemorating the bravery of soldiers of the Indian Expeditionary Force who fought on the Western Front during the First World War. These memorials serve as a poignant reminder of the enduring Indo-French relationship and the shared commitment to peace and tranquillity.
The India-France Strategic Partnership has gained significant momentum over time, evolving into a close and multifaceted relationship spanning diverse areas of cooperation. General Chauhan’s visit to France further solidified this partnership, laying the groundwork for enhanced collaboration in defence and strategic affairs between the two nations.
