India - France assure strong defence ties in 20th Joint Staff talks
16 Apr 2022 12:47:59
Paris, Apr 16: The 20th edition of India-France Joint Staff talks was held in Paris, France on Apr 12-13. The meeting was co-chaired by Assistant Chief of Integrated Staff, Int-C (Military Cooperation), Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) Air Vice Marshal B Manikantan and Head of Bilateral Cooperation South Staff Headquarters Brigadier General Eric Peltier.
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The meeting was conducted in a friendly, warm and cordial atmosphere. The discussions focused on new initiatives under the ambit of existing bilateral defence cooperation mechanism and strengthening ongoing defence engagements.
The India-France Joint Staff talks is a forum established to enhance defence cooperation between both the nations through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels. In a telephonic conversation in Jan 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian PM Narendra Modi had discussed a range of issues of mutual interest and agreed on keeping in touch and enhancing all-around strategic cooperation between India and France, including areas of defence.