New Zealand joins India’s exercise Tarang Shakti as observer, strengthening defence ties

New Zealand has participated as an observer in Exercise Tarang Shakti, a multinational air exercise hosted by the Indian Air Force in Jodhpur, highlighting the growing defence cooperation between India and New Zealand.

Flight Lieutenant Ben Pickering of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) represented New Zealand at the exercise, which brought together air forces from multiple countries to strengthen international cooperation, exchange operational knowledge and enhance mutual understanding.

Speaking about his experience, Flight Lieutenant Pickering shared his learnings and observations from the exercise, describing the value of participating in an international platform that brings together military personnel and aviation capabilities from different nations.

New Zealand's participation as an observer added another dimension to the exercise, providing an opportunity to understand the operational approaches of participating air forces and learn from their experiences. Such engagements also create opportunities for professional exchanges and closer collaboration between defence forces.

Exercise Tarang Shakti serves as a platform for participating countries to share expertise, strengthen interoperability and build professional relationships through joint training and engagement. The exercise also highlights India's role in promoting multilateral defence cooperation and fostering stronger partnerships with countries across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The participation of the Royal New Zealand Air Force reflects the continuing engagement between India and New Zealand in the defence sector. Through such exchanges, both countries can deepen mutual understanding, strengthen institutional ties and explore further opportunities for cooperation.

As India and New Zealand continue to develop their bilateral relationship, engagements such as Exercise Tarang Shakti underline the importance of dialogue, shared learning and international partnerships in addressing evolving regional and global security challenges.