India and France are set to strengthen their defence cooperation through the 7th edition of Exercise ‘Shakti’, scheduled to take place from May 13 to May 26 in the Umroi region of Meghalaya. The joint military exercise aims to boost the combined military capabilities of both countries, particularly in undertaking Multi-Domain Operations in a Sub Conventional scenario, as stated by the Indian Army.
The exercise will help the Indian and French armies work better together. The Indian Army posted about the upcoming exercise on social media, telling about its goals and where it will happen. This is the seventh time they are doing this exercise together. Last year, they did the sixth one in France. Indian soldiers from Gorkha Rifles and support Arms joined in. They practised planning and working together to fight terrorism, following rules set by the United Nations. The exercise included combat conditioning, tactical training, firing drills, and ‘battle hardening’ sessions, culminating in a rigorous 36-hour exercise to validate the achieved standards. Before this exercise, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan visited France from April 22-25, aiming to further strengthen the robust defence ties between India and France, which have seen significant growth in recent years.
India and France will commence the military exercise from May 13 to May 26.