Rajnath Singh, French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin to Co-Chair 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue in Bengaluru.
New Delhi:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will co-chair the 6th India-France Annual Defence Dialogue with France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Catherine Vautrin, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on February 17, 2026. The high-level meeting will review the entire spectrum of bilateral defence cooperation, with a particular emphasis on expanding industrial collaboration between the two nations.
During the dialogue, the two sides are expected to renew the existing defence cooperation agreement for another ten years. An MoU for a Joint Venture to manufacture HAMMER missiles in India is also likely to be signed in the presence of both Defence Ministers, marking a significant step toward strengthening defence manufacturing capabilities under the Make in India initiative.
In addition, an announcement is anticipated regarding the reciprocal deployment of officers between the Indian Army and the French Land Forces, further enhancing military-to-military engagement and operational cooperation.
The two Ministers are also scheduled to witness the virtual inauguration of the H125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly Line of Tata Airbus at Vemagal, Karnataka. The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, underscoring the deepening strategic and industrial partnership between the two countries.
Defence cooperation remains a cornerstone of India-France relations. The strength of bilateral ties was prominently reflected in recent years through high-profile exchanges, including Prime Minister Modi’s participation as Guest of Honour at the Bastille Day Parade in July 2023 and the French President’s presence as Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day Parade in 2024.
Military cooperation between the two countries continues to expand. India and France regularly conduct three major bilateral exercises — Exercise Shakti (Army), Exercise Varuna (Navy), and Exercise Garuda (Air Force) — along with several other joint engagements. The growing collaboration aligns with the broader India-EU Security and Defence Partnership aimed at deepening engagement with European partners.
This will be Catherine Vautrin’s first visit to India since assuming office as France’s Defence Minister on October 12, 2025. The India-France Annual Defence Dialogue is a structured ministerial-level mechanism designed to review and guide defence and security cooperation. The fifth edition of the dialogue was held in France from October 11 to 13, 2023.
