Exercise ‘Varuna’ 2023

Context: The 21st Edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France – Exercise Varuna commenced recently.

About Exercise Varuna:

• The Indian and French Navies have been conducting bilateral maritime exercises since 1993. Since 2001, these exercises have been called ‘VARUNA’.
• These interactions further underscore the shared values as partner navies, in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.
• The joint-exercises are held either in the Indian Ocean or Mediterranean Sea with the aim of improving Indo-French coordination on capabilities like:
  • cross-deck operations,
  • replenishment-at-sea,
  • minesweeping,
  • anti-submarine warfare and
  • information sharing.
• Other Indo-French Joint Exercises:
  • Desert Knight-21 and Garuda (Air exercise)
  • Shakti (Army exercise)

Source: NewsOnAir