India and the EU perform a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean, improving maritime security cooperation between two sides. | Photo credit: Ani
India and the European Union (EU) will carry out a three -day joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean from June 1 to June 3, reflecting their growing defense and strategic cooperation. The joint exercise will focus on advanced counter-piracy, interoperability, tactical maneuvers and improved communication protocols, reflecting increasing maritime security cooperation between the two parties.
The respective maritime operations centers (MOC) will control the financial year, according to a press release from the EU. The exercise will involve ships of the Indian Navy and two frigates of the naval force operation of the European Union (Eunavfor) Atalanta, of the Italian ship Antonio Marceglia and the Spanish ship Reina Sofia, as well as their respective air assets. The EU and India increase cooperation on maritime security. The EU and India share a strong commitment to a free, open, inclusive maritime order based on rules in the Indo-Pacific region.
This is supported by respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, democracy, the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overview, unhindered lawful trade and a peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (CNONDOS), said the press release. This exercise is based on the visit of the college of commissioners in India in February 2025. One of the main deliverables was to improve the commitment to awareness of the maritime field with a view to promoting shared evaluation, coordination and interoperability.
The fourth EU-Indian maritime security dialogue held in March 2025 also underlined the fight against illicit maritime activities and the exploration of new joint maritime initiatives aligning the objectives of this exercise. Vice-admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano, commander of the Eunav operation for Atalanta, visited India in April to raise bilateral cooperation with the Indian Navy. Naval cooperation between the EU and India has developed in recent years with joint exercises in the Gulf of Guinea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Indian Navy has also provided charter ships for global food programs, coordinated by Operation Eunav for Atalanta, according to the press release. Launched in 2008 to combat hacking and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden, the mandate of Operation Atalanta has evolved. It includes a wide range of security challenges, including counter-notots, smuggling weapons and the fight against illegal, unsuccessful and unregulated (UIU) fishing in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. The Eunav warships for Atalanta deployed in the Indian Ocean led “passage exercises” (PastEx) at sea with the Indian Navy in the past.
Posted on May 30, 2025
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