Eye on China, India and France focus on defence, maritime ties
2018-03-11 09:30:36 source：The Indian Express
March 11, 2018
Stepping up strategic cooperation — with China in mind — India and France on Saturday signed a pact that will enable their defence forces to access each other’s facilities and extend logistical support on a reciprocal basis. The deal, which is similar to the logistical support pact with the US, is an indicator of the strategic depth and maturity in defence ties between the two countries.
“I consider today’s agreement on the reciprocal logistics support between our armies as a golden step in the history of our close defence cooperation,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, after bilateral talks with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron.
Signed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly, the pact will facilitate reciprocal provision of logistics support, supplies and services between the armed forces of the two countries during authorised port visits, joint exercises, joint training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.
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