The French carrier strike group (CSG), with the aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle at its center, departed from Goa and Kochi on India’s western coast on 9 January 2025 to begin the next leg of Mission Clemenceau 25 in the Indian Ocean. The group is heading for the Indonesian arc, where it will participate in the “La Perouse” exercise.
Cooperation at Sea: As the strike group departed, French and Indian naval forces conducted joint operations at sea. The French destroyer participated in a navigation exercise with India’s INS Mormugao frigate, practicing tactical evolution manoeuvres. The two ships also deployed helicopters for a cross-deck manoeuvre, demonstrating operational coordination between the two forces.
Refueling and Joint Anti-Aircraft Drill: FNS Jacques Chevallier, the French fleet replenishment tanker, gave refueling support to the INS Mormugao. In parallel, Indian Sukhoi and Jaguar fighter jets allied with the French Rafale Marines in a joint anti-air exercise that further solidified the two navies’ combined strength.
Logistical Support and Strategic Relations: On 10 January, the French Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft made a stopover in India en route to Indonesia, where it will join the French naval force. This is an example of strategic and privileged relations between India and France that can be quite operational and give military cooperation more depth.
Interoperability and Upcoming Exercises: The coordinated exercises proved interoperability between the French and Indian navies. The activities took place before the 42nd iteration of the annual bilateral naval drill, VARUNA, that has been held since 1983. The CSG will join VARUNA when it returns to the Indian Ocean and will deploy its assets with the Indian Navy.
Strategic Partnership: The longstanding strategic partnership between France and India, forged over 27 years, emphasizes bilateral cooperation in military exercises across land, air, and sea domains. Since 2022, India has supported French Navy operations with numerous stopovers, reinforcing the robust military ties between the two nations.
The recent drills between the French CSG and Indian Navy indicate that defense cooperation between the two countries is indeed getting deeper and closer. Joint exercises and cooperation, in fact, indicate that they are serious about improving interoperability, maritime security, and long-term strategic partnerships.