Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan concluded a comprehensive visit to France on April 28. During the visit, he discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries, a PIB press release stated.
The visit has reaffirmed the continued long-standing strategic partnership between India and France, and further reinforced the bilateral Defence Cooperation between the two nations.
The CDS also paid a visit to the War Memorials of Neuve-Chapelle and Villers-Guislain to pay tribute to the soldiers of the Indian Expeditionary Force who fought on the Western Front during the First World War. This gesture is in line with the longstanding Indo-French friendship.
The interactions between CDS & 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 at the apex level, as well as with his counterpart, General Thierry Burkhard (CEMA), provided an opportunity to discuss a wide range of areas of common interest and mutual security concerns.
The exchanges at the French Directorate General of Armament for enhancing the exchange of high-end dual-use technologies followed by interactions with the top leadership of the French Defence industry, including Dassault, Safran, and Naval Groups, and Thales Alenia Space, aimed at providing impetus to the indigenisation of Indian Armed Forces.