Bengaluru : Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Ms Catherine Vautrin, co-chaired the 6th India–France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru today, reaffirming the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations and outlining a forward-looking roadmap for defence and security cooperation.
During the dialogue, both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral defence engagement, with a strong focus on co-development, co-production, and collaboration in niche and advanced technologies. The Ministers emphasised the importance of closer defence industrial integration and sustained military-to-military cooperation as key pillars of the India–France Strategic Partnership.
A major outcome of the meeting was the renewal of the India–France Defence Cooperation Agreement for another 10 years, reinforcing long-term institutional collaboration. The agreement was signed by the Defence Secretary of India and the Deputy Director General for International Relations and Strategy from the French side.
In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint venture for the manufacturing of HAMMER air-to-ground precision-guided munitions in India. The initiative is expected to strengthen India’s defence self-reliance and promote high-technology industrial cooperation.
Both nations also announced the reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments to enhance operational understanding, professional exchange, and joint capability development. France welcomed the decision to convert the bilateral Army exercise ‘Shakti’ from a biennial to an annual engagement, reflecting the growing depth of military cooperation.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that the recent India–EU Security and Defence Partnership marks a significant step in strengthening collective engagement and will be leveraged to deliver tangible outcomes in regional stability and security cooperation. He reiterated India’s role as a ‘First Responder’ and ‘Net Security Provider’ in the Indian Ocean Region, supporting partner nations in defence, maritime, and security domains.
Welcoming Ms Catherine Vautrin on her maiden visit to India, Shri Rajnath Singh noted that her tenure comes at a critical juncture for global and European security and appreciated France’s steadfast commitment to strategic autonomy and a robust defence posture. The Annual Defence Dialogue is a structured ministerial-level mechanism aimed at reviewing and guiding defence and security cooperation between India and France. Prior to the meeting, Ms Catherine Vautrin was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon her arrival in Bengaluru.