The Indian Army has officially scheduled the 8th edition of Exercise Shakti, a bilateral military drill with France, to take place from June 18 to July 1, 2025, in La Cavalerie, France. This exercise is designed to enhance the joint operational capabilities of the Indian and French armed forces, focusing on sub-conventional warfare and multi-domain scenarios.
Exercise Shakti, which began in 2011, takes place every two years, alternating between India and France. The last edition occurred in May 2024 in Meghalaya, India, marking a significant step in the ongoing military cooperation between these two strategic partners.
The upcoming 2025 edition will prioritize key aspects such as interoperability, tactical coordination, and mutual understanding among the forces involved. This will involve training on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism strategies, as well as urban warfare operations. Participants will engage in realistic combat simulations and joint mission planning to ensure effective training outcomes.
This exercise is a crucial element of the broader India-France defense partnership, which has been steadily growing in recent years. It also aligns with a wider strategy focused on Indo-Pacific engagement, further demonstrated by joint activities like the Tarang Shakti multinational exercise in August 2024, where French forces played an active role.
With a goal of enhancing synergy and camaraderie between the two militaries, the upcoming Exercise Shakti is anticipated to deepen strategic ties and improve the capacity of both nations to tackle contemporary regional and global security challenges effectively.
