India & France Discuss Deeper Air Force Cooperation At 22nd Air Staff Talks In New Delhi

India and France concluded the 22nd edition of Air Staff Talks in New Delhi, discussing stronger bilateral air force cooperation. The Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force held talks from September 29 to October 1, 2025.

Air Vice Marshal SK Taliyan and Brigadier General Nicolas Chambaz co-chaired the meeting, representing their respective forces during discussions.

The agenda covered joint training, combined exercises, professional military education, exchange of ideas, and adopting shared best practices effectively.

The IAF announced the outcomes on X, highlighting the continued emphasis on strengthening operational ties and building mutual capability.

Earlier, on September 11, both countries held the 17th Joint Working Group meeting on Counter-Terrorism in Paris.

The delegations reaffirmed a strong commitment to combating terrorism globally, condemning the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

The Indian side was led by KD Dewal, Joint Secretary (Counter-Terrorism), while France was represented by Ambassador Olivier Caron.

Discussions examined state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, radicalisation, extremism, and the growing misuse of technology by terrorist organisations worldwide.

Officials agreed coordinated efforts were crucial against online propaganda and extremist recruitment, issues increasingly threatening international security and global stability.

Both nations expressed commitment to intensifying cooperation at international forums like the United Nations, FATF, and the NMFT initiative.

The talks also explored broader cooperation on organised crime, cybersecurity threats, and information sharing against emerging terrorist propaganda tactics.

The MEA said discussions underscored capacity-building through joint training, professional education, and multilateral engagements in counter-terrorism frameworks.

These consistent engagements highlight India-France defence partnership, strengthening interoperability, trust, and coordinated responses to shared security challenges globally.