Exercise Shakti

• 18 Jun 2025

On 16th June 2025, a 90-member Indian Army contingent departed for Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie, in southern France to participate in the eighth edition of the Indo-French joint military exercise, Shakti, scheduled from June 18 to July 1.

• The Indian contingent is led by troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, with support from various arms and services, showcasing the operational diversity of India’s armed forces.
• The French Army will be represented by an equally strong contingent of 90 personnel from the prestigious 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE), known for its rigorous combat training and international deployments.
• Exercise Shakti, held biennially between India and France, aims to enhance bilateral defence cooperation and build interoperability between the two militaries during joint operations.
• This year’s edition will focus on conducting operations in a sub-conventional environment in line with Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which addresses peacekeeping and conflict resolution.