India–France ‘Garuda-25’ Air Exercise Deepens Strategic Defence Cooperation – Chinmaya IAS Academy

Context:

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force have commenced the bilateral air exercise ‘Garuda-25’ at Mont-de-Marsan, France.
The exercise marks another step in strengthening India–France defence ties and enhancing operational interoperability between the two air forces.

Key Highlights:

Exercise Overview

Name: Garuda-25
Nature: Bilateral air exercise
Location: Mont-de-Marsan, France
The exercise began on Sunday, following the arrival of the Indian contingent a day earlier.

Objectives of Garuda-25

Enhance interoperability between the two air forces.
Share best practices, tactics, and operational experiences.
Improve joint operational planning and execution in complex air combat scenarios.

Operational Significance

Provides exposure to:
- Advanced air combat doctrines
- Joint mission planning
- High-end operational environments
Enables both forces to:
- Learn from each other’s training methodologies
- Strengthen combat readiness and coordination.

Strategic Context

‘Garuda’ is a long-standing series of bilateral air exercises between India and France.
Reinforces the broader India–France Strategic Partnership, especially in:
- Defence cooperation
- Aerospace collaboration
Complements other defence engagements such as:
- Joint naval exercises
- Defence technology cooperation

Diplomatic & Security Implications

Signals deepening mutual trust between the two countries.
Enhances India’s engagement with key European defence partners.
Contributes to stability and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security landscape.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

GS 2 – International Relations

Prelims Focus:

Mains Enrichment:

Discuss how bilateral military exercises contribute to strategic partnerships and defence preparedness.
Examine the role of India–France defence ties in India’s broader foreign and security policy.