Rajnath Singh, Catherine Vautrin to review full spectrum of India
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will co-chair the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin in Bengaluru on February 17, in a move aimed at further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The ministerial-level meeting will review the entire spectrum of bilateral defence cooperation, with a sharp focus on expanding industrial collaboration and enhancing long-term strategic alignment.
A key highlight of the dialogue is expected to be the renewal of a defence cooperation agreement for another 10 years. An MoU on a joint venture for the manufacturing of Hammer missiles is also likely to be signed in the presence of the two Defence Ministers. In addition, an announcement is anticipated regarding the reciprocal deployment of officers between the Indian Army and the French Land Forces, signalling deeper operational integration.
The two leaders are also scheduled to witness the virtual inauguration of the H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly Line of Tata Airbus at Vemagal, Karnataka, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The project underscores growing industrial cooperation and joint manufacturing under the broader defence partnership framework.
Defence has long remained a central pillar of India-France relations. The strength of the partnership was prominently reflected in recent years, with Prime Minister Modi attending France’s Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour in July 2023, followed by President Macron’s participation as Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day Parade in 2024.
Military-to-military engagement between the two sides continues to expand, with regular joint exercises including Exercise Shakti (Army), Exercise Varuna (Navy), and Exercise Garuda (Air Force), along with several other cooperative engagements. The recent India-EU Security and Defence Partnership has further broadened the scope of India’s strategic engagement with European nations.
This will be the maiden visit of Catherine Vautrin to India since she assumed office as France’s Defence Minister on October 12, 2025. The India-France Annual Defence Dialogue serves as a structured platform at the ministerial level to review, guide, and deepen defence and security cooperation. The fifth edition of the dialogue was held in France from October 11 to 13, 2023.
