Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov.13: The Indian Army will conduct the sixth edition of its joint training exercise with the French Army next week, continuing its series with friendly nations.
Earlier this year, India and France conducted joint Air Force and Naval drills.
According to the Army, Shakti 2021, the sixth iteration of the biennial training exercise, will take place in Frejus, France, from November 15 to November 26. The Gorkha Rifles Infantry Battalion will take part in the drill, while the French will be represented by troops from the 6th Light Armoured Brigade’s 21st Marine Infantry Regiment.
According to the Army, the exercise “would focus on Counter Terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under UN Mandate with the goal of enhancing military collaboration and interoperability between the two Armies.”
The Army stated that the most recent edition of the Shakti exercise took place in 2019 at the Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan, where “counter-terrorism operations in semi-desert environment were practised and validated.”
The Gorkha Rifles, representing the Indian Army, “has a rich heritage marked by its military valour and supreme sacrifices with a glorious history of 68 years,” according to the statement and its contributions in the 1971 war were recognised by Battle Honour Shingo River Valley and Theatre Honour Jammu & Kashmir.
The French Army contingent, which was founded in 1831 as the 2nd Marine Regiment and later renamed the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment in 1901, boasts a “illustrious operational history of more than 120 years and has participated in all of the French Army’s major battles.” The regiment “specialises in amphibious warfare and has extensive operational experiences in Africa, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Mali,” according to the statement.
India and France conduct three biennial training exercises together namely; Garuda with the Indian Air Force, Varuna with the Indian Navy, and Shakti with the Indian Army.
