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French carrier strike group, Indian warships to carry out 42nd Varuna bilateral exercise on west coast

The French CSG is led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle that can operate up to 40 aircraft. Exercise Varuna, featuring the two navies, began in 2001.

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New Delhi: The French carrier strike group (CSG), on a visit to the Indian Ocean, will take part in the annual bilateral Exercise Varuna with the Indian Navy on the west coast.

As part of Mission CLEMENCEAU 25, the French CSG comprising the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle along with its air fleet, frigates and supply ships will be making stopovers at Goa and Kochi from 4 January.

Operating with a crew of 1,000-plus personnel, the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle can operate a fleet of up to 40 aircraft including Rafale Marine fighters, E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft, and helicopters.

With strategic interests in the Indian Ocean, the French have historically been focused on its western side. The European country has its military units deployed on two islands in the region.

Last year, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tabar, a frontline stealth frigate, visited Toulon in France from 29 August to 1 September and also participated in the Varuna bilateral exercise from 2 September to 4 September in the Mediterranean Sea.

In addition to INS Tabar, the Indian Navy was represented by the P8I aircraft in the bilateral exercise that began in 2001. INS Tabar is part of the Indian Navy’s western fleet which is based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.

The French carrier strike group is in the Indian Ocean, where it is conducting joint training sessions with its regional partners including India, the French embassy said in a press statement. It will then move to the Indonesian zone for Exercise La Perouse and then to the Pacific Ocean for Exercise Pacific Steller.

“India has been France’s foremost strategic partner since 1998, and the excellent Indo-French military cooperation is characterised by numerous bilateral exercises such as Shakti on land, Varuna at sea and Garuda in air. India also plays host for numerous operational stopovers made by French Navy vessels, accounting for 16 port calls since 2022,” the statement said.

The Clemenceau 2025’s aim, it added, is to develop interoperability between the two navies and to prepare crews to deal with a multi-milieu threat (air, surface and submarine) as part of a coalition.

Since 2008, France has been a member of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) initiated by India. France took over the presidency of this forum from 2021 to 2023.

(Edited by Tony Rai)


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