The second phase of Varuna Exercises were conducted off Djibouti from May 22-25, the French Embassy in India revealed last week. The tiny African nation is home to a French base, as well as to China’s first and only overseas naval facility.
EX Varuna in the Gulf of Aden witnessed the French nuclear attack submarine Amethyste and the Indian submarine INS KALVARI India’s first Scorpene-class submarine. The two navies conducted detection, tracking and plunge attack operations while maintaining control over maritime areas and their environment.
A focus on anti-submarine warfare suggests the 17th edition of Varuna, an annual exercise between the navies of India and France, was aimed at having closer cooperation with France in Naval related constructions.
Alarmism over any other navy including the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s presence in the Indian Ocean is a big myth. Presently no Navy except the US Navy can face the Indian Navy in the IOR.The Chinese Navy has not been able to even sustain its continuous deployment in the IOR. However the rapid growth of Chinese naval forces could change things in the future, though by that time even the Indian Navy would have grown in size. So it’s a big propaganda by vested interests that Delhi and Paris are teaming up in an anti-China front led by the United States. India will certainly not be led by any one not even
by USA.
The first stage of Varuna was held off Goa in early May. Aside from the Amethyste, the French navy deployed its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers, a frigate and a tanker. This French Flotilla trained with India’s aircraft carrier INS VIKRAMADITYA destroyer INS CHENNAI, frigate INS TARKASH, Shishumar-class submarine INS SHANKUL and fleet tanker INS DEEPAK.
France is actively present in the Indian Ocean, where it has overseas territories and naval outposts. The Charles de Gaulle’s arrival at Changi Naval Base in Singapore on May 28 is a testament to the increasing French commitment to the security of the Indo-Pacific region.
Varuna exercises are aimed at developing interoperability and could contribute to improving the relative strategic position of India and France in the Indian Ocean.
The Indo-French military partnership made substantial progress with the signing of a logistics support agreement last year. At the moment, the Indian navy can dock at France’s naval base on Reunion Island for refueling, and Delhi is negotiating access to the facility in Djibouti.
For their part, the French naval forces have so far used Mumbai and Karwar ports under the 2018 deal.
The two countries have already stepped up cooperation in the field of maritime domain awareness. They have also agreed to exchange information on the Indian Ocean security situation and are working together on a satellite system monitoring naval movements in the vast region.
India is an important buyer of French weapons systems. The Indian government acquired 36 Rafale fighters from France’s Dassault Aviation in 2016 and is developing a submarine program based on Naval Group’s Scorpene-class vessel.
This year’s Varuna exercises were the largest ever. The two sides trained to hone their submarine-hunting capabilities. As noted by retired Indian Commodore Abhay Kumar Singh, while China has become a serious strategic challenge for India in the Indian Ocean, it cannot yet be seen as an immediate threat in South Asian waters.
“The Indian Ocean has certainly emerged as an area of overlapping strategic interests between India and China, but as of now Sino-Indian dynamics in the region remains at the level of strategic competition,” Said Singh.
China’s presence had grown through enhanced economic and political engagement with countries in the Indian Ocean region, a near-permanent presence of its navy there and the military base in Djibouti. However as the Maldives crisis clearly showed that China will in no way dare to confront India in the Indian Ocean. 6 to 7 Chinese Ships far from their home will stand no chance against the Indian Navy.
“The Indian Ocean remains a secondary theater for China’s navy and military, whereas it is obviously the primary one for India, the resident super power in the region. India has the geography, size, political commitment and the rapidly growing economy.
The Indian Navy has the biggest assets in the IOR in the form of a Super Super Unsinkable Carrier INS INDIA itself with Deccan Plateau jutting out into the IOR. Then there are three minor ones like INS Andaman, INS NICOBAR and INS LAKSHADWEEP. No navy in the world can match it in the IOR …..this is the stark reality every other country must understand.
