The French Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles De Gaulle, arrived in Goa to participate in the bilateral naval exercise Varuna. On arrival at Goa’s Mormugao port trust jetty yesterday, the French Carrier Strike Group received a ceremonial welcome from the Indian Navy band. The French carrier strike group, which includes the Rafale Marine fighter aircraft, will take part in the 42nd annual bilateral exercise Varuna with Indian navy ships. In a social media post, the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy said that the purpose of the visit was to enhance interoperability, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen ties between the navies of India and France.

France and India regularly cooperate to contribute to maritime safety in the Indian Ocean region. Since 2008, France has been a member of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), which was initiated by India and brings together 25 navies. The aim of this forum is to increase collective effectiveness in tackling a range of maritime issues, including illegal trafficking, illegal fishing, search and rescue at sea, and pollution. India has been France’s foremost strategic partner since 1998, and the excellent Indo-French military cooperation is characterized by numerous bilateral exercises such as Shakti on land, Varuna at sea and Garuda in the air. India also plays host to numerous operational stopovers made by French Navy vessels, accounting for 16 port calls since 2022.