India and France are partners in defence and armaments

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will co-chair the 4th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu who is visiting India from November 26-28.

The Minister of Armed Forces of the French Republic will also visit the Southern Naval Command and go on board India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

"He will take his opportunity to highlight the importance of Indo-French naval cooperation for security and stability in the Indo-Pacific," the French Embassy in India said.

Additionally, the visiting French Minister is also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

In the meeting with EAM Jaishankar, he will discuss global issues of common concern, including the situation in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific, and will convey France’s full support for India’s Presidency of the G20, which is beginning on 1 December, the French Embassy statement said.

He will discuss regional security issues and the close cooperation in combating terrorism in the meeting with NSA Doval.

This is the French Defence Minister's first visit to India after assuming office.

According to India's Ministry of Defence, India and France have close and friendly relations.

In 1998, the two countries entered into a Strategic Partnership, marking convergence of their views on a range of international issues apart from a close and growing bilateral relationship.

India and France are partners in defence and armaments, contributing to India’s policy of strategic autonomy in the defence sector through numerous industrial cooperation.

There has been significant progress in other areas of bilateral cooperation as well, thanks to frequent high-level meetings between heads of state and governments and expanding commercial ties, including in crucial sectors like space, nuclear energy, and defence.