India, France Wrap Up SHAKTI 2025: Joint Drills Boost Military Synergy and Strategic Ties

India and France have successfully completed Exercise SHAKTI 2025, a major joint exercise from June 18 to July 1 at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie, France. The biennial exercise, in its 8th iteration, saw more than 500 French soldiers and 90 Indian soldiers—mostly from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles—participating to enhance operational coordination and strengthen strategic defence cooperation.

 

Key Highlights:

 

Multi-Domain Operations: The exercise featured 50+ tactical and armored vehicles, fighter aircraft, and an intense 96-hour field simulation in semi-urban environments, testing joint decision-making and stamina.

 

Advanced Warfare Training: Both armies carried out electronic warfare, drone counter-measures, and urban warfare training, developing readiness for sub-conventional threats under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

 

Two-Phase Structure: The initial drills were joint firing and tactical coordination, then open-field and semi-urban warfare training, day and night.

 

Strategic Cooperation: The exercise offered a platform for the exchange of best practices and the formulation of new military strategies, making Indo-French defence cooperation stronger.

 

Prospects:

 

SHAKTI 2025 raised the bar for Indo-French defence cooperation with the promise of even higher interoperability and confidence as both nations face changing global security challenges together.

 

Source: Economic Times