Friday, October 21 2005 17:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: France considers India as a dominant Naval power in the Indian Ocean region, a senior French Navy official said here.

The ongoing visit of French Navy supply and command ship in the Indian Ocean region, 'Marne', to Mumbai harbour, is a part of the on-going close Indo-French naval co-operation, the officer told sources on board 'Marne'.

The bilateral co-operation between India and France was initiated a decade ago and since then French naval ships have been regularly visiting India and also particpating in joint naval exercise 'Varuna', he said.

A major joint naval exercise between the two navies is scheduled next year, the official said. He, however, declined to divulge the details. Asked if the aircraft carriers of the two nations would be participating in that exercise, he said, "most likely."

"France feels that the Indian Ocean zone plays a key role in the international affairs", the official said. "It is situated at the junction of the main commercial and strategic maritime routes. It is an important zone for international exchanges which has witnessed many political and military crises in the past ten years", he added.

"It is in this framework that supply and command ship Marne, which is also the flagship of the Admiral has been deployed in the Indian Ocean area", he said.

The 158-metre long Marne is an oil tanker of the French Navy, which supports the French fleet in the Indian Ocean. It is the flagship of the Admiral commanding the French Naval forces in the Indian Ocean (Alindien) who is himself the direct representative of the Chief of French Defense staff, he said.