Varuna-India, France-Carry Out Joint-Naval-Exercise

India-France-Carry-Out-Joint-Naval(नौसेना)-Exercise-Varuna'

NEW DELHI:  The Indian Navy began a joint maritime exercise with the French Navy on Monday at the Mediterranean Sea(भूमध्य - सागर) to further deepen combat coordination between the two navies. Guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai, stealth frigate INS Trishul and fleet tanker INS Aditya are taking part in the 'Varuna' exercise which will continue till April 30. The ships are part of the Indian Navy's overseas deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and West Coast of Africa and they arrived at Toulon port on southern France's Mediterranean coast earlier on Monday. 

The 'Varuna' series of exercises began in 2000 and have grown into an institutionalised (संस्थागत रूप से) form of interaction between the two navies.

"The current visit seeks to underscore(जांच लेना) India's peaceful presence and solidarity (एकता) with friendly and like-minded countries towards ensuring good order in the maritime domain and to strengthen the existing bonds between India and France," navy spokesperson(प्रवक्ता) Captain D K Sharma said.

Interestingly, the exercise coincides with the visit of Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, to France.

Luthra is scheduled to visit the French frigate FNS Auvergne, a French nuclear submarine unit, as well as an underwater weapons facility.

He would also call on senior officials in France, including Vice Admiral Charles-Henri du Che, Commander-in- Chief of the Mediterranean Sea Area (CECMED). The visiting ships are a part of the Indian Navy's Western Naval Command.

Defence cooperation between India and France has grown substantially in the recent past.
Bilateral exercises such as 'Garuda', 'Shakti' and 'Varuna' have been a regular feature between the two nations.

Definitions of solidarity (एकता)

noun

unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.

factory workers voiced solidarity with the striking students

synonyms: unanimity, unity, like-mindedness, agreement, accord, harmony, consensus, concurrence, cooperation, cohesion, fraternity, mutual support, concord

an independent trade union movement in Poland that developed into a mass campaign for political change and inspired popular opposition to communist regimes across eastern Europe during the 1980s.