New Delhi: Some key outcomes are expected from the bilateral dialogue to boost defence cooperation during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s talks with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin in Bengaluru on February 17.
According to defence ministry, a defence cooperation agreement is expected to be renewed for another 10 years, with an MoU on joint venture for “manufacturing of Hammer missiles” likely to be signed at the meeting in the presence of both the ministers.
The ministry in a statement said, “The two ministers are also expected to witness the virtual inauguration of the H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly of Tata Airbus by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron at Vemagal in Karnataka.”
Singh will co-chair the sixth India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of France, Catherine Vautrin in Bengaluru on February 17, the ministry said.
As per officials, the meeting will review the entire gamut of bilateral defence cooperation, with a focus on expanding industrial collaboration.
An announcement is also expected with respect to reciprocal deployment of officers at the Indian Army and French Land Forces establishments. Defence has traditionally formed an important pillar of the relationship between the two countries. The “strong and enduring bilateral ties” were vividly reflected in 2024-2025 through a series of high-profile exchanges, the statement said.
In July 2023, Prime Minister Modi was the Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade before the French president graced the Republic Day Parade 2024 as the chief guest.
According to the ministry, the recent India-EU Security and Defence Partnership marks a significant step in deepening collective engagement with European nations. Also, military-to-military cooperation is on an increase. India and France have been regularly carrying out three major exercises – Exercise Shakti with the Army, Exercise Varuna with the Navy, and Exercise Garuda with the Air Force – and several other opportunity engagements.
This would be the maiden visit of Vautrin to India after she took over as the French defence minister on October 12, 2025, the statement said.
The India-France Annual Defence Dialogue is a structured ministerial-level bilateral meeting to review and guide defence and security cooperation. The fifth edition of the meeting was held in France from October 11-13, 2023.
