Why In News?

Indian Navy’s guided-missile stealth frigate INS Trishul arrived at the Toulon Naval Base, France, to participate in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise 'VARUNA'.

What Is Exercise VARUNA?

Bilateral Naval Ties: Exercise VARUNA is the annual bilateral maritime exercise conducted between the Indian Navy and the French Navy (Marine Nationale).

Historical Trajectory:

  • Initiated in 1993 as a bilateral naval exercise to foster tactical cooperation and goodwill.

  • Formally named as 'VARUNA' in 2001, transforming into a multi-domain tactical engagement encompassing surface, sub-surface, and naval aviation warfighting.

The exercise alternates venues between the waters of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Mediterranean Sea / Atlantic Ocean, reflecting shared maritime responsibilities across global sea lanes.

Why Is France A Key Partner In The Indo-Pacific?

Resident Indo-Pacific Power: Unlike other European nations, France is a resident Indo-Pacific stakeholder with sovereign overseas territories—including Réunion Island, Mayotte, and French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) in the Indian Ocean, and New Caledonia and French Polynesia in the Pacific.

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Vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Over 93% of France's global EEZ lies in the Indo-Pacific, inhabited by over 1.6 million French citizens and garrisoned by permanent pre-positioned military commands (ALINDIEN and FAPF).

Defense Industrial Collaboration:

  • Submarine Technology: Successful domestic construction of six Kalvari-class (Scorpène) conventional diesel-electric attack submarines under Project-75 at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), with procurement approvals for three additional follow-on submarines.

  • Fighter Aircraft Integration: Induction of 36 Rafale jets in the Indian Air Force and the selection of the carrier-borne Rafale-M for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya).

  • Aero-Engine Co-Development: Ongoing collaboration between Safran and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for indigenous jet engine design and manufacturing. 

Strategic Autonomy and Multipolarity: Both New Delhi and Paris champion strategic autonomy, refusing to be drawn into rigid Cold War-style binary blocs while balancing emerging regional hegemony.

Other India-France Bilateral Military Exercises 

Exercise GARUDA (Air Force): A bilateral air combat exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force, conducting complex air defense, strike, and mid-air refueling missions.

Exercise SHAKTI (Army): A biennial joint military exercise focusing on counter-terrorism and semi-urban combat operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations mandate.

Exercise FRINJEX (Joint Army Engagement): Designed to enhance interoperability in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, counter-terror deployments, and tactical small-team coordination in semi-urban environments.

Multilateral Integration (La Pérouse): French-led multinational naval drills in the Bay of Bengal bringing together the navies of India, France, the United States, Japan, and Australia.

Source: PIB

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Examine how mutual logistics support agreements and shared maritime domain awareness frameworks enhance India's role as a net security provider in the Western Indian Ocean. (10 Marks)