Some drills of the annual joint naval exercise between India and France, Varuna, will be held off the coast of Djibouti later this month. This is the first time that the exercise is being held there. Last year, it was organised near the French-controlled Reunion Islands. France has a naval base in Djibouti. But, it is China's new naval base which has ushered the country into the spotlight in recent years.
The annual exercise has started in Goa. The land phase is underway. The sea phase will begin off the coast of Goa shortly. France has sent six ships for the exercise, which includes its newly retro-fitted aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. The others are two destroyers, one frigate, one tanker and a nuclear submarine. Three thousand French sailors will be participating in the exercise, said French ambassador Alexandre Zeigler.
Charles de Gaulle has been deployed in the Indo-Pacific region since March and will remain in these parts until July. On board the carrier are 20 marine versions of the advanced fighter aircraft Rafale. India is the only country with which the carrier, now fitted with modern equipment for cyber and submarine warfare, will have such a complex and comprehensive engagement, the ambassador said.
Zeigler said that this year, Varuna will be unprecedented in scope and size. The exercise with France was established back in 1983, but was included in its present form under the strategic partnership in 1998. Zeigler was upbeat about the recent listing of Masood Azhar by the sanctions committee of the United Nations Security Council. France had played a key role in this development. He said the struggle started way back in 2001 when the UN decided to ban Jaish-e-Mohammed after the Parliament attack. But, its mastermind remained off the list. Zeigler said, after Pulwama, France decided to initiate the action itself. This is good news for the global fight against terror, which is the cornerstone of our strategic partnership, he said. He added that India has been formally invited to France for the G7 summit in August.