IBNS-CMEDIA: INS Trishul arrived in Toulon, France, on September 22 to participate in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise ‘Varuna’ between the Indian Navy and the French Navy.
Exercise Varuna will feature a range of professional engagements both in harbour and at sea, including cross-deck visits, operational interactions and sporting activities.
“These engagements will provide opportunities for both Navies to share experiences and best practices, enhance interoperability and foster greater mutual understanding,” the government said in a statement.
The visit highlights the strong and enduring maritime partnership between India and France and reflects the expanding scope of defence and maritime cooperation between the two countries.
India and France established diplomatic relations soon after India’s independence in 1947 and have maintained close and friendly ties since then.
The two countries launched their Strategic Partnership on January 26, 1998, making France the first Western country to establish such a partnership with India and India the first non-Western country to enter into one with France.
The Strategic Partnership was built around a shared vision of strengthening strategic autonomy through enhanced bilateral cooperation.
“Defence and security, civil nuclear matters and space constitute the principal pillars of this strategic cooperation,” the Indian Embassy in France said in a statement.
“In recent years, the partnership has broadened to include cooperation in artificial intelligence, the blue economy, environment, innovation, science and technology, sustainable development, renewable energy, and trilateral cooperation with a focus on the Indo-Pacific,” it added.
