A two-weeks joint military exercise between French soldiers, who are based in New Caledonia, and soldiers from the Tonga Defence Services concluded at the Taliai Military Camp, Fua'amotu on November 21.

The exercise involved 24 French soldiers and a 30-TDS platoon and focused on learning battle skills, including self-defence tactics, movement drills, weapon handing and live firing practices. Soldiers practiced scenarios of war-like interventions in a hostile and fictitious territory.

The TDS on November 24 stated that the objective of the military training program was to strengthen the military ties between Tongan and France and it was fully-funded by the French Government.

The French Non-Resident Ambassador for Tonga HE Mr. Michel Monnier visited the joint exercise on November 20 during a

two-day visit to Tonga.

Last month, the French Government delivered 15 army trucks to the TDS. The French Ambassador pledged the delivery of the trucks when he presented his credentials to HM King Tupou George Tupou V in May. The reconditioned vehicles were valued at USD $1.1 million dollars.