India and France Strengthen Defence Ties Through Army Chiefs’ Strategic Dialogue

India and France are set to elevate their defence partnership as Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi held a high-level meeting with his French counterpart, General Pierre Schill, in New Delhi. The discussions centered on enhancing bilateral military cooperation, joint counter-terrorism strategies, and collaboration in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

This strategic dialogue reflects the growing defence and security alignment between the two nations. Both sides explored avenues for joint military exercises, sharing of best practices, and technological cooperation aimed at modernizing defence operations.

General Dwivedi’s previous visits to France, including interactions with the French Army’s 3rd Division and exposure to advanced military programmes like SHAKTI exercises and the “Scorpion” modernization initiative, provided a strong foundation for these talks. The Indian Army chief also emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange in operational planning and training for global peacekeeping operations.

The meeting coincided with discussions on international security challenges, including nuclear and chemical threats, artificial intelligence in defence, and the development of lethal autonomous weapons systems. Both nations reiterated their commitment to supporting peace and stability through collaborative efforts in global forums such as the United Nations.

Experts say this engagement signals India and France’s intent to further deepen defence cooperation, improve interoperability, and jointly address emerging security threats. The talks are expected to pave the way for more structured bilateral programmes in training, technology, and counter-terrorism operations in the near future.