SOURCE: TIMES NOW
Amid the ongoing tensions with China over the territorial advancements by the People’s Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control, France on Monday extended its unflinching support to India in these trying times and assured all possible help, including its armed forces. French Defence Minister Florence Parly yesterday wrote to Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, condoling the death of 20 brave Indian soldiers who were killed in action during a violence faceoff with the Chinese military in Galwan Valley on the intervening night of June 15-16.
“This was a hard blow against soldiers, their families and the nation. In these difficult circumstances, I wish to express my steadfast and friendly support, along with that of French armed forces,” Parly wrote in her communique to Rajnath Singh.
The French Defence Minister called India their ‘strategic partner in the region’ and said reiterated her country’s ‘deep solidarity’. The French Armed Forces Minister also expressed the country’s readiness to meet Rajnath Singh in India at his behest to follow up on the ongoing discussions.
Foreign Secretary of India Harsh Vardhan Shringla too on Monday held video interactions with Secretary General of the French Foreign Ministry and the country reportedly expressed eagerness to work with India on the Indo-Pacific region, especially in western Indian Ocean.
The Indian Air Force is likely to receive its first delivery of Rafale fighter jets from France by the end of July. In total, six Rafale fighter jets are expected to touch down at Haryana’s Ambala – the home base of the jets – on July 27, according to reports. France was earlier supposed to deliver four jets in their first instalment.
https://defencenewsofindia.com/hard-blow-against-soldiers-french-defence-minister-extends-steadfast-support-to-india-over-lac-standoff/
