APD | Indian Defence Minister in France

By APD writer Rishika Chauhan

NEW DELHI, October 11(APD) : India’s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is on a three-day visit to France and is scheduled to hold talks with her French counterpart, Florence Parly.

The two was expected to discuss ways to deepen strategic cooperation between India and France and other issues of mutual concern.

Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Joint military training and production of weapons is also expected to be in the discussions list, and she may meet President Emmanuel Macron. Earlier, the French President Emmanuel Macron visited India in the month of March.

According to a Hindustan Times report, during President Macron’s visit to India, “The two countries decided to expand strategic ties and deepen counter-terror cooperation and to hold an annual dialogue at the defence minister level.”

“The two sides also inked a strategic pact providing for the use of each other's military facilities including opening naval bases to warships.” Sitharaman is to take this cooperation forward.

The Defence Minister is anticipated to visit a Dassault’s Rafale fighter jet manufacturing facility near Paris on Friday. The visit is also crucial as India plans to import the aircraft.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)