Earlier this year, India and France conducted joint Air Force and Naval drills.
The Indian Army will conduct the sixth edition of its exercise with the French Army beginning next week as part of joint training exercises with friendly nations.
According to a statement issued by the Army on Friday, Shakti 2021, the sixth round of the training exercise will take place from November 15 to November 26 in Frejus, France.
The Gorkha Rifles Infantry Battalion will participate in the drill, while troops will represent the French from the 6th Light Armoured Brigade’s 21st Marine Infantry Regiment.
Focus on Counter-Terrorism operations
The Army stated that the exercise “would focus on Counter-Terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under United Nations Mandate with the goal of enhancing military collaboration and inter-operability between the two Armies.”
The previous Shakti exercise took place in 2019 at the Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan, where “counter-terrorism actions in semi-desert environment were practised and validated,” according to the Army.
The Gorkha Rifles contingent, representing the Indian Army, “has a rich heritage marked by its military valour and supreme sacrifices with a glorious history of 68 years,” according to the statement, and its contributions in the 1971 war were recognised by the Battle Honour Shingo River Valley and the Theatre Honour of Jammu & Kashmir.
The French Army contingent, formed in 1831 as the 2nd Marine Regiment and later renamed the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment in 1901, has a “illustrious operational history of more than 120 years and has engaged in all the great wars of the French Army.” According to the statement, the regiment “specialises in amphibious combat and has extensive operational experience in Africa, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Mali.”
The sixth edition of the bilateral Army exercises is to be held between India and France.
