India-France Joint Exercise ‘Shakti 2025’ Begins in France

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