As part of Mission Clemenceau 25, the French naval carrier strike group, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier FNS Charles De Gaulle, is participating in the 42nd annual Varuna bilateral exercise with Indian warships in the Indian Ocean. This joint exercise aims to bolster maritime security and strengthen the partnership between France and India in the region.
The French Navy’s participation in this exercise is a key part of Mission Clemenceau 25, which focuses on safeguarding French interests in the Indo-Pacific and contributing to European operations. As a result, the French carrier strike group, including an air fleet, frigates, and supply vessels, is engaging in joint training with India’s navy to improve interoperability between the two forces and prepare them to counter a range of multi-environment threats—air, surface, and submarine—while working together as part of a coalition.
The exercise aims to enhance collaboration between France and India, as both countries commit to maintaining maritime safety in the Indian Ocean. The French Navy will make stopovers at Goa and Kochi from January 4 before continuing to the Indonesian zone for Exercise La Perouse and the Pacific Ocean for Exercise Pacific Steller.
The French Navy has a significant strategic interest in the Indo-Pacific, with over 1.5 million French citizens living on island territories and an exclusive economic zone spanning over 11 million square kilometers, primarily within the Indo-Pacific region. France has also maintained strong defense ties with India, which has been a key strategic partner since 1998. This partnership is demonstrated through various bilateral exercises, such as Shakti (land), Varuna (sea), and Garuda (air), which the two countries actively conduct.
In addition to conducting bilateral training exercises, France actively participates in several multinational missions in the region, including the EU’s Atalanta operation against piracy, the Combined Task Force 150 for combating illicit trafficking, and the Aspides operation to ensure maritime safety and freedom of navigation. France is also an active member of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), established by India to enhance cooperation among 25 Indian Ocean states on maritime security challenges.
