Goa [India]: The French Carrier Strike Group (CSG), led by the aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle, is actively participating in the bilateral Varuna exercise with the Indian Navy from March 19 to 22, 2025.
This annual exercise underscores the enduring strategic partnership between France and India, which has flourished for over 25 years. The Varuna exercise is part of a larger series of joint military drills that include the land-based Shakti and air-based Garuda exercises.
During the exercise, the Charles de Gaulle, flagship of the French Navy, will conduct complex drills alongside the Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant. These exercises aim to enhance operational coordination and aero-naval interoperability between the two forces, according to an official press release by the French Embassy.
The focus of the exercise is on preparing naval crews to counter threats across multiple domains — aerial, surface, and underwater operations. The presence of advanced assets from both navies ensures realistic and effective training, strengthening their ability to operate together in real-world scenarios.
Since November 2024, France has been deploying its Carrier Strike Group as part of the CLEMENCEAU 25 mission, a strategic initiative aimed at deepening military ties with Indo-Pacific partners.
The Varuna exercise follows previous joint operations between French and Indian forces earlier this year, which included air and naval drills during French naval stopovers in Goa and Kochi. With the French CSG’s return to the Indian Ocean, cooperation between the two nations continues to grow.
As a resident power in the Indian Ocean, France remains committed to maintaining stability and security in the region. French forces are actively engaged in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, with a continued presence in the United Arab Emirates (FFEAU) and the Southern Indian Ocean (FAZSOI).
The deployment of the Carrier Strike Group reflects France’s strategic focus on regional security and its commitment to strengthening alliances in the Indo-Pacific.