Senior Indian MEA and MOD officials were briefed on the EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) during visits to EU institutions in Brussels, Belgium, and the EU Headquarters Operation ATALANTA of the EU naval force in Rota, Spain. from September 2 to 4, 2024
New Delhi/Brussels/Rota, September 5, 2024: With a view to further strengthening security and defense cooperation, the European Union (EU) organized a three-day study visit to Europe for senior Indian officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Defense.
Facilitated by the EU Delegation to India and the EU co-funded Strengthening Security Cooperation in Asia (ESIWA) project, the visit aimed familiarize Indian officials with EU security and defense mechanisms while exploring potential cooperation in Common security and defense policy (CSDP) and in the Indo-Pacific.
The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary, Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division, MEA, and accompanied by Captain Fabrizio Falzi, Defense Attaché of the EU Delegation to India.
EU Ambassador to India Hervé Delphin said “This visit highlights India and the EU’s shared commitment to strengthening 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. Through such visits, we can build deeper mutual understanding, which is essential for advancing cooperation. To take our partnership to new heights, we aim to establish more permanent interactions between employees, including with military personnel. This will strengthen our joint operational effectiveness to meet the challenges we face at sea, but also on land and in cyberspace..”
Comments on EU NAVFOR operations SE Delphin added: “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 closer 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.»
The EU CSDP enables the Union to play a leading role in peacekeeping, conflict prevention and international security operations. EUNAVFOR ATALANTA is a key element of CSDP and EU naval diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific region. India remains one of the most important players and partners in security and defense cooperation, including maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
The three-day study mission of Indian officials began with briefings and detailed discussions within the European External Action Service (EEAS), particularly at the Directorate for Security and Defense Policy , at the European Security and Defense College and at the General Staff of the European Union. Representatives of the European Maritime Safety Agency and FRONTEX also engaged with the Indian delegation to further define possible areas of mutual interest and cooperation between the EU and the Indian Coast Guard.
Indian and EU officials benefited from peer-to-peer exchanges and a deeper understanding of their respective strategic and operational frameworks in the context of the CSDP, as well as a better understanding of the EU’s collective efforts in maintaining peace, preventing conflicts and strengthening international security. , as set out in the EU’s strategic vision for an EU-India strategic partnership.
The visit to EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ATALANTA The Operation Headquarters in Rota, Spain, highlighted EU maritime CSDP activities in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, closing the Indian delegation’s visit with the opportunity to directly visit the EU Maritime Security Operations Centre.
In August 2023, the flagship of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, ITS Durand De La Penne, conducted a joint activity at sea with the Indian destroyer INS Visakhapatnam as part of the EU cooperation strategy in the Indo-Pacific region. The cooperation between EUNAVFOR ATALANTA and ASPIDES with the Indian Navy is fundamental to further strengthen security and freedom of navigation in this strategic area, both for India and the EU.
EUNAV FOR ATALANTA: Operation ATALANTA is a key maritime security operation under the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). Its primary mandate is to deter, prevent and suppress acts of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia. Additionally, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA protects World Food Program ships and other vulnerable vessels, ensuring the delivery of food aid and the security of maritime routes in the region.
ESIWA: The Strengthening Security Cooperation in and with Asia (ESIWA) project aims to improve EU security and defense cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region in four thematic areas: countering terrorism and prevention of violent extremism, crisis management, cybersecurity and maritime security. The project is co-financed by the European Union, the German Federal Foreign Office and the French Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs. ESIWA is co-implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Expertise France.
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