Watch: French Assault Helicopter Carrier Tonnerre, Surcouf Frigate Arrive At Kochi Port For ‘La Pérouse’ Joint Exercise

Today, two French Navy ships -- assault helicopter carrier Tonnerre and Surcouf frigate -- arrived at the Kochi Port for France-led 'La Pérouse' joint exercise. For the first time, the Indian Navy will be part of a French naval exercise.

The ships will sail to the Bay of Bengal for the joint exercise from 5 to 7 April between France and the QUAD members - India, Japan, Australia, and United States.

Indian Navy band welcomed the French Navy ships at the Kochi port.

This will be followed by another important naval exercise ‘Varuna’, an annual joint exercise between India and France. This time it will also include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and will take place in the western Indian ocean in the last week of April.

Previously, India carried out a passage exercise in the South China Sea with the Vietnamese navy in December 2020, along with war games with the navies of Singapore and Thailand in the Andaman Sea, soon after the Malabar Exercise last year, with Australia as the new addition.

Reportedly, Indian Navy has participated in 13 bilateral and multilateral exercises so far this year.