India and France are all set to intensify their strategic engagement as they will be conducting a joint surveillance and ocean mapping of the Mozambique Channel, Mauritius and South-West Indian Ocean from November 9-11.
With both the countries committed to tackle various issues such as piracy, drug trafficking, arms smuggling on the eastern seaboard of Africa.
While Chinese surveillance is deployed round 90 degree East Ridge of the Indian Ocean south of Indonesia, India and France will be conducting joint surveillance and area patrol around French Reunion Islands for the second time this year.
In order to maintain the strategic bilateral momentum between both the countries, French Defence Minister Sebastian Lecornu will be coming to India for two days at the end of this month to hold talks with Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh and top leadership of Modi government.
India and France have strong defence ties with France committed to jointly develop aircraft engines, aircrafts, submarines and missiles under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”. In addition to this France is also ready to assist India in manufacturing and developing long range submarines and missiles.
Both India and France work closely with US in the UN Security Council and have zero in on Pakistan based terrorists for global designation by the 1267 Committee.