The Indian Army has announced the 8th edition of Exercise Shakti, a bilateral joint military drill with France, scheduled to take place from June 18 to July 1, 2025, at La Cavalerie, France. The exercise aims to bolster the joint operational capabilities of both nations’ armed forces in sub-conventional and multi-domain scenarios.
Initiated in 2011, Exercise Shakti is a biennial event conducted alternately in India and France. The previous edition took place in May 2024 in Meghalaya, India, furthering the momentum of military cooperation between the two strategic partners.
The 2025 edition will emphasize developing interoperability, tactical coordination, and mutual understanding between the participating contingents. Focus areas include counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and urban warfare operations, supported by realistic combat simulations and joint mission planning.
Exercise Shakti is a significant component of the broader India-France defense partnership, which has seen a steady expansion in recent years. The collaboration is also part of a larger Indo-Pacific engagement strategy, illustrated by events like the Tarang Shakti multinational exercise in August 2024, where France participated actively.
By fostering greater synergy and camaraderie, the upcoming edition of Exercise Shakti is expected to deepen strategic alignment and enhance the ability of both nations to address contemporary regional and global security challenges.
