A French Carrier Strike Group (CSG) make a stopover in Goa and Kochi On Sunday (January 5). The stopovers at Goa and Kochi are part of Mission Clemenceau 25. The French aircraft carrier FNS Charles De Gaulle and its embarked air fleet is accompanied by escort vessels (frigates and supply ships).
The CSG is currently deployed in the Indian Ocean. It has been conducting joint training sessions with regional partners like India. After visiting India, it is slated to go to the Indonesian zone for La Perouse exercise. It will then go to Pacific Ocean for Exercise Pacific Stellar.
"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 air. India also plays host for numerous operational stopovers made by French Navy vessels, accounting for 16 port calls since 2022," said a statement from the French embassy.
The Charles de Gaulle CSG will take part in 42nd annual Varuna bilateral exercise with Indian Navy ships. Both navies are looking to develop interoperability between them. The exercise is aimed at making crews prepared to deal with a multi milieu threat (air, surface, submarine)
"As resident nations of the Indian Ocean, France and India regularly cooperate to contribute to maritime safety in the 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 from countries of the Indian Ocean. 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. France took over the presidency of this forum from 2021 to 2023," said the statement from French embassy.
France is involved in a number of missions in the Indian Ocean: the European ATALANTA operation to combat piracy and drug trafficking, the international naval coalition Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 to combat illicit trafficking, and more recently the European Union's ASPIDES operation to ensure maritime safety and freedom of navigation from Suez to Hormuz.
