Exercise VARUNA 2021

  • The 19th edition of the Indian and French Navy bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ is being conducted in the Arabian Sea.
  • Earlier this year, the Indian Navy took part for the first time in the France-led naval exercise “La Pérouse" with the navies of the US, Australia and Japan.
  • The Indian and French Navies have been conducting bilateral maritime exercises since 1993. 
  • Since 2001, these exercises have been called ‘VARUNA’.
2021 EXERCISE
  • This is the first time that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is participating in the Varuna maritime exercise.
  • The ‘Varuna’ joint exercise is part of the French carrier strike group’s ‘CLEMENCEAU 21’ deployment, which the French Navy is conducting in the eastern Mediterranean, the Gulf and the Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea).
  • Its goal is to contribute to the stabilization of these strategic zones and strengthening cooperation with the navies of partner countries, in particular India for the Indian Ocean component.
OTHER EXERCISES
  • Desert Knight-21 and Garuda (Air exercise).
  • Varuna (Naval exercise).
  • Shakti (Army exercise).

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