The European Union organized a three-day study visit to strengthen security and defense cooperation for senior Indian officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense. The visit aimed to familiarize Indian officials with EU security and defense mechanisms and explore potential collaboration in Common Security and Defense Policy missions.
EU Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphinsaid the visit underlines the shared commitment of India and the EU to strengthen security and defense ties. Maritime security is a common concern and a primary objective of cooperation, as demonstrated by the respective operations of EU NAVFOR and the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean.
The Ambassador noted that through such visits, the EU and India can deepen mutual understanding, which is essential for advancing cooperation.
“To strengthen our partnership, we aim to establish more permanent interactions between employees, including with military personnel, to improve our joint operational effectiveness in meeting challenges at sea, on land and in cyberspace,” stressed His Excellency.
“The Indo-Pacific region is a vital hub of strategic importance to both India and the EU due to the growing interdependence of global economies and the importance of maritime supply chains. We are committed to forging stronger cooperation with India to ensure a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order, address common security challenges and promote peace and stability in the region,” HE added Delphin.
The EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) allows the Union to take the lead in peacekeeping, conflict prevention and international security operations. EUNAVFOR ATALANTA is crucial to the CSDP and EU naval diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region. India is an important player and partner in security and defense cooperation, particularly in maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
During the three-day study mission by Indian officials, they received detailed information. They held talks within the European External Action Service (EEAS), focusing on the Directorate for Security and Defense Policy, the European Security and Defense College and the Military Staff of the European Union.
Representatives of the European Maritime Safety Agency and FRONTEX also met with the Indian delegation to explore potential areas of mutual interest and cooperation between the EU and the Indian Coast Guard.
The visit to the EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA (EUNAVFOR) headquarters in Rota, Spain, highlighted EU maritime CSDP activities in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. This visit allowed the Indian delegation to have a first-hand overview of the EU Maritime Security Operations Centre, concluding their trip with valuable information on the EU’s efforts in peacekeeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security, as set out in the EU’s strategic vision for an EU-India Strategic Partnership.
The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Muanpuii Saiawico-secretary of the Division for Disarmament and International Security Affairs, and accompanied by Captain Fabrizio FalziDefense Attaché of the EU Delegation to India.
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