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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with his French counterpart Florence Parly. Photo by PTI.
The Indian and French navies will begin joint patrolling in Southern Indian Ocean to deal with illegal fishing and protect the strategic interests of the two countries in the region, a French naval commander said on Monday.
Vice admiral Didier Maleterre, who is the Joint Commander of the French forces deployed in the Indian Ocean region, also said that the two navies will ink an agreement early next year which will provide for the sharing of classified information.
On the proposed joint patrol, he said India Navy is expected to deploy its P8I maritime surveillance aircraft for it.
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