The overall situation in the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region is said to have come up in discussions between Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari and Gen Mille, he also met with Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande

Photo Credit : Indian Air Force,

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, the Chief of Air Staff, met with his French counterpart Gen Stephane Mille on Monday, focusing on ways to strengthen bilateral military cooperation in the face of various geopolitical developments.

The highest-ranking French military official, Gen Mille is on an India visit. 

“General Stephane Mille, Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force, met with Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, CAS, today at Air Headquarters in New Delhi. The two Chiefs discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” the Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted about it.

The overall situation in the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region is said to have come up in discussions between Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari and Gen Mille.

Gen Mile's visit coincided with an 18-day military exercise in Jodhpur between the Indian and French air forces.

The 'Garuda VII' exercise, which involves many combat jets including Rafale, Tejas, Jaguar and Sukhoi-30s, began on 26 October and will conclude on 12 November.

Gen Mille also met with Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande.

“General Manoj Pande, Chief of Staff, French Air and Space Force, interacted with General Stephane Mille, Chief of Staff, French Air and Space Force and discussed aspects of Defence Cooperation between both defence forces,” the Indian Army tweeted.

According to the navy, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral SN Ghormade met with Gen Mille to discuss bilateral operational engagement and mitigating security concerns in the Indian Ocean region.

Military cooperation between India and France has grown significantly in recent years.

A French Air and Space Force contingent, including three Rafale jets, made a strategically important stopover at the IAF's Sulur base in Tamil Nadu in August as part of a massive military operation in the Pacific Ocean.

In March, the Indian and French navies conducted a five-day mega wargame in the Arabian Sea, involving frontline ships, submarines, maritime patrol aircraft, fighter aircraft and helicopters.

The French Navy participated in the exercise with its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its entire carrier strike group, indicating a growing convergence in naval ties.