India and France Strengthen Strategic Defence Partnership with New Agreements
In a significant development for bilateral military relations, India and France have renewed their defence cooperation framework for another decade while announcing reciprocal deployment of army officers and advancing plans to manufacture Hammer missiles in India. The announcements came during the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue held in Bengaluru on Tuesday, co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and France's Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin.
Key Outcomes of the Defence Dialogue
The structured ministerial meeting reviewed ongoing cooperation between the two nations and established clear priorities for the co-development and co-production of defence equipment. According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the dialogue serves as the principal mechanism for reviewing and guiding the expanding defence partnership between India and France.
Military-to-military engagement remains a central pillar of the India-France strategic partnership, emphasized Singh during the discussions. He pointed to the recent India-EU Security and Defence Partnership as a platform that could be leveraged for deeper bilateral cooperation and wider European collaboration to strengthen regional stability and joint capabilities.
Hammer Missile Manufacturing Initiative
A key outcome of the dialogue was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Safran Electronics & Defense to establish a joint venture for manufacturing Hammer missiles in India. This move is expected to significantly strengthen India's precision-strike capabilities while aligning perfectly with the nation's push for domestic production under the Make in India initiative.
The Hammer (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) missile is a precision-guided weapon system developed by France that can be launched from aircraft against ground targets at various ranges. Its production in India represents a major step forward in defence technology transfer and industrial cooperation between the two countries.
Enhanced Military Cooperation Framework
The two ministers oversaw the renewal of the 10-year defence cooperation framework, which was formally signed by India's defence secretary and the French Deputy Director General for International Relations and Strategy. This agreement provides the structural foundation for continued collaboration across multiple defence sectors.
Both sides agreed to reciprocal deployment of officers at Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments, a strategic step aimed at enhancing operational understanding and interoperability between the two military forces. This personnel exchange program will facilitate better coordination and shared tactical knowledge.
Vautrin, on her first visit to India as defence minister, welcomed the decision to convert Exercise Shakti between the two armies from a biennial to an annual exercise. This increased frequency of joint military exercises will provide more regular opportunities for practical cooperation and skill development.
Regional Security Discussions
The dialogue also addressed important regional security concerns. Singh emphasized that India continues to act as a "first responder" and "net security provider" in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), assisting partner countries in defence and maritime security matters.
On the subject of terrorism, Singh accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, describing it as a serious threat to regional peace. "Pakistan has a long history of nurturing, nourishing, and promoting cross-border terrorism to create disturbance and violence in India. This has created a serious threat to peace in the region," stated the defence minister during the discussions.
Ceremonial Aspects of the Visit
Earlier in the day, French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin was accorded a Guard of Honour at the HAL airport upon her arrival in Bengaluru. This ceremonial welcome underscored the importance both nations place on their defence relationship and set a positive tone for the substantive discussions that followed.
The renewed defence cooperation agreement, combined with the concrete steps toward joint missile production and enhanced military exchanges, represents a comprehensive strengthening of the India-France strategic partnership. These developments come at a time when both nations are seeking to diversify their defence relationships and build more resilient security architectures in their respective regions.
