INS Trishul joins France for the 24th edition of Exercise Varuna
22 September 2026
The Indian Navy ship INS Trishul arrived at Toulon, France on 22 September 2026 to take part in the 24th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise Varuna between India and France. The exercise involved professional engagements in harbour and at sea, including cross-deck visits, operational interactions and sporting engagements between the two navies. The Ministry of Defence said the visit underscores the strong and enduring maritime partnership between India and France and reflects the expanding scope of maritime cooperation between the two nations.
Exercise edition:
24th
Host port:
Toulon, France
Indian ship:
INS Trishul
Why it matters for exams: Exercise Varuna is a long-running India-France bilateral naval exercise and its editions and host ports are a recurring defence-diplomacy question.
Kerala PSCUPSC