CHIEF of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Monday held wide-ranging talks with his French counterpart Gen Stephane Mille focusing on ways to boost bilateral military cooperation in the backdrop of various geopolitical developments. The top-ranking French military official is on a visit to India.

“General Stéphane Mille, Chief of Staff of the French Air & Space Force called on Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, #CAS at Air HQ, New Delhi today. The two Chiefs discussed ways & means to enhance bilateral ties & strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” the Indian Air Force (IAF) tweeted.

It is learnt that the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific as well as the Indian Ocean Region figured in the talks between

Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari and Gen Mille. The visit by General Mile came amid an 18-day military exercise between the Indian and French air forces in Jodhpur. The ‘Garuda VII’ exercise, involving a significant number of combat jets such as Rafale, Tejas, Jaguar and Sukhoi-30s, began on October 26 and will culminate on November 12.

The French military official also met Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande.

“General Manoj Pande #COAS interacted with General Stephane Mille, Chief of Staff, French Air and Space Force & discussed aspects of #DefenceCooperation between both the defence forces,” the Army tweeted.