Army Chief visits French 3rd Division, discusses joint training

Marseille

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited the French Army’s 3rd Division at Fort Ganteaume, where he was briefed on its role and future joint training plans, including Exercise SHAKTI, scheduled in France later this year.

As part of his visit, General Dwivedi will observe a live demonstration of the Scorpion Division, featuring live firing exercises on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Defence. Exercise SHAKTI is an annual military drill aimed at enhancing interoperability and coordination between the Indian and French armies in tactical operations.

General Dwivedi arrived in France on an official visit from February 24 to 27 to strengthen defence ties between the two nations. On Tuesday, he visited Marseille to learn about the 3rd Division’s mission, India-France training cooperation, and France’s military modernisation programme, ‘Scorpion.’ He will also visit Carpiagne to witness a dynamic demonstration of the Scorpion Division.

Earlier, he met senior French military officials at Les Invalides, receiving a Guard of Honour before discussions with General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army, to deepen military cooperation. He also toured the Ecole Militaire and visited key military technology centres in Versailles.

On Thursday, he will lay a wreath at the Neuve Chapelle Indian War Memorial and deliver a lecture at the Ecole de Guerre on modern warfare and India's strategic vision.