New Delhi, Oct 14: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi met his French counterpart, General Pierre Schill, Chief of Staff of the French Army (CEMAT), on the sidelines of the United Nations Chiefs of the Counter-Terrorism Conference 2025, reaffirming the strength of the Indo-French defence partnership.
In a post on X, the Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) said, “On the sidelines of #UNTCC2025, #GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS met with his French counterpart, General Pierre Schill, CEMAT. The two Chiefs reaffirmed the robust Indo-French strategic partnership, with discussions on expanding joint training exercises, counter-terrorism cooperation, and defence technology collaboration.”
Both leaders also underscored the need to enhance interoperability in UN peacekeeping operations, reflecting their shared commitment to global security and stability.
The ongoing engagement builds upon General Dwivedi’s visit to France earlier this year, which marked a key milestone in advancing bilateral military cooperation. During his official visit from February 24 to 27, the Indian Army Chief visited several strategic military establishments and held in-depth discussions with senior French defence officials.
On February 25, General Dwivedi visited Marseille, where he was briefed on the French Army’s 3rd Division, the bilateral exercise SHAKTI, and the modernisation programme “Scorpion.” The next day, he witnessed a live demonstration of the Scorpion Division in Carpiagne, showcasing advanced combat capabilities.
At Les Invalides in Paris, General Dwivedi was accorded a Guard of Honour and held formal talks with General Schill to reinforce bilateral military engagement. He also toured the Ecole Militaire, where he was briefed on the Future Combat Command (CCF), and visited the Technical Section of the French Army (STAT) and Battle Lab Terre in Versailles, highlighting growing cooperation in defence technology and innovation.
The COAS paid homage at the Neuve Chapelle Indian War Memorial, honouring Indian soldiers who fought in World War I, and later addressed officers at the Ecole de Guerre (French Joint Staff College) on India’s strategic vision and the evolution of modern warfare.
The Defence Ministry noted that General Dwivedi’s visit and continued dialogue with French defence leaders are part of India’s broader effort to bolster strategic, operational, and technological cooperation with France.
The engagement follows the India-France Bilateral Dialogue on Disarmament and Non Proliferation held in Paris on February 14, where both nations discussed global security issues, including AI in warfare, space security, and arms control frameworks.
These sustained high-level interactions underscore the deepening strategic partnership between India and France, founded on shared democratic values, mutual trust, and a common commitment to peace, stability, and multilateral cooperation.