A 90-member Indian Army contingent, led by troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, has departed for France to take part in the eighth edition of the India-France joint military exercise ‘Shakti’, scheduled from June 18 to July 1, 2025, at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie. This biennial engagement between the two nations focuses on enhancing counter-terror cooperation, sub-conventional operations, and military interoperability in semi-urban terrain, under the UN Charter’s Chapter VII mandate.
Why in News?
The eighth edition of the bilateral Indo-French military exercise ‘Shakti’ begins on June 18, 2025, in France. Indian Army contingent has left for the 15-day-long operation hosted at Camp Larzac. The exercise aims to simulate UN Chapter VII peacekeeping operations in semi-urban environments.
What is Exercise Shakti?
- Exercise Shakti is a biennial Indo-French military drill aimed at fostering joint training, tactical coordination, and mutual trust.
- Conducted alternately in India and France.
- Focuses on sub-conventional operations, often linked to counter-terrorism, urban warfare, and UN peacekeeping scenarios.
Participants in 2025
Indian Contingent
- 90 personnel led by a battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.
- Support from other units across Indian Army services.
French Contingent
- 90 troops from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE) – an elite unit known for overseas operations.
Objectives of Shakti 2025
- Enhance interoperability and joint operational capabilities.
- Share best practices in counter-terrorist operations, cordon-and-search, and urban warfare.
- Build mutual understanding under a multinational UN peacekeeping context (Chapter VII).
Training Environment
- The drills will be conducted in semi-urban terrain, simulating complex threat scenarios.
- Focus on joint planning, mission execution, cordon and search operations, and humanitarian assistance.
- Emphasis on coordination in high-stress and asymmetric warfare conditions.
Chapter VII of UN Charter
- Authorizes UN member states to take military action to maintain or restore peace in case of threats to peace, breaches, or acts of aggression.
- Exercises like Shakti mimic real-world UN-mandated operations.
| Summary/Static | Details |
| Why in the news? | Shakti 2025 |
| Edition | 8th |
| Location | Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie, France |
| Indian Contingent | 90 personnel (Jammu and Kashmir Rifles + others) |
| French Contingent | 90 personnel (13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade – 13th DBLE) |
| Key Focus | Sub-conventional operations, UN Chapter VII scenarios |
| Training Terrain | Semi-urban |
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