Indian Naval Ship Trishul arrived at Toulon, France, on 22 September to participate in the 24th edition of Exercise Varuna, the annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the French Navy.

The annual exercise brings together the Indian and French navies for professional engagements in harbour and at sea. Its activities are designed to improve operational coordination, exchange best practices and strengthen interoperability.

The French Navy welcomed INS Trishul with a ceremonial water-cannon salute. The harbour phase included official meetings, cross-deck visits, sporting events and cultural interactions.

The ship’s Commanding Officer met Rear Admiral Mackara Ouk, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Operations, and interacted with senior French naval officers.

The Indian delegation also paid tribute to soldiers who served during the World Wars. The Commanding Officer, officers and crew laid a wreath at the Mazargues War Memorial in Marseille in remembrance of 205 Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice.

The professional programme included exchanges of operational experience between personnel from the two navies. These interactions helped deepen mutual understanding and improve coordination at sea.

A cultural event hosted onboard INS Trishul was attended by Vice Admiral (Retired) Laurent Isnard, Deputy Mayor of Toulon, French Navy officers and civil dignitaries. A volleyball match between personnel from the two navies added a sporting element to the harbour phase.

The Indian crew also visited the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and the frigates Forbin and La Fayette. The visits focused on carrier operations, naval aviation facilities and practices followed onboard French warships.

At sea, INS Trishul exercised with Forbin, La Fayette and the nuclear-powered attack submarine Suffren. French NH90 helicopters and Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft also joined the drills.

The sea phase involved anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare exercises, live firing and cross-deck helicopter landing serials. Together, these activities tested the ability of the two navies to operate alongside one another in complex maritime scenarios.

The exercise strengthened operational synergy and reaffirmed the long-standing maritime partnership between India and France. It also demonstrated the shared commitment of the two navies to sustained engagement, greater interoperability and expanded professional cooperation.

ANI