Annual Defense Dialogue to be held today between India and France

India and France will undertake extensive discussions, especially on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific, during the 4th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue here on Monday with a view to enhancing their defense and strategic partnership. The dialogue will be co-chaired in the late afternoon by French Foreign Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who is currently in India.

Sebastien Lecornu is making his maiden trip to India as the French Minister of Defense. Along with the French Ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain, and other senior French Officials, Lecornu visited the Southern Naval Command Headquarters in Kochi on Sunday and INS Vikrant, the country’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier.

“On board the Indian Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, which was designed and built in India. France and India share a desire to protect their marine territorial integrity and ensure maritime freedom in the Indo-Pacific “Tweeted Lecornu’s statement.

On Monday, the French Minister of Defense will also lay a wreath at the National War Memorial. In the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, he will thereafter receive Tri-Service Guard of Honor at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in Chanakyapuri.