After their first historic summit last week, the Indo-Pacific Quad comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia, France is now set to strategically closer to the rapidly evolving grouping. From April 4-7, France will participate in a five-nation naval exercise, called La Perouse, which will include all the four Quad members. These naval manoeuvres will be held in the Bay of Bengal, highly placed sources told India Narrative.

Later in April, India, France and the UAE will hold another naval exercise. During these manoeuvres in the Arabian Sea codenamed 'Varuna', France will be fielding Charles de Gaulle, its formidable 42,000 tonne aircraft carrier.

The Hindustan Times reported that India's western fleet with its newly appointed commander Rear Admiral Ajay Kochhar will be conducting advanced exercises with the French carrier task force.

In a clear message to China, France will deliver seven more Rafale fighters next month, completing the first squadron of the French omni-role fighters, with Ambala air base as their peacetime location. The remaining 18 fighters will be deployed at Hashimara in the eastern sector to cover the strategic Siliguri corridor, facing China. French Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian will also be arriving in India in April to deliver a lecture at a think-tank, apart from pursuing a political dialogue with his Indian interlocutors.

Both India and France have converging perception over freedom of navigation in Indo-Pacific, with Paris appointing a special envoy for the region. The next step would be to weave the Indo-French strategic track into the broader Indo-Pacific narrative anchored by Quad.

India is also set to further strengthen its military clout in the Indo-Pacific region in the near future, following the visit to New Delhi of US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin later this month.

This will be a crucial visit as it is likely to clear the ground for India's $3 billion purchase of for 39 armed Predator drones.

"These are awesome machines which can deliver high quality images from the Sunda strait in the Indonesian archipelago to the Gulf of Aden. Besides they have enough punch to remotely launch punishing strikes" an official source said.

(Under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)