Reflecting deepening maritime ties, India and the European Union (EU) will conduct a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean from June 1 to 3. The high-level drills aim to enhance counter-piracy operations, interoperability, and maritime security cooperation between the two sides.
The exercise will involve Indian Navy warships and two EU vessels—a frigate from Italy and another from Spain—currently deployed with the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) under Operation Atalanta. These ships will engage in advanced naval operations focused on tactical manoeuvres, communication protocols, and anti-piracy drills.
This joint effort builds on expanding India-EU cooperation in maritime security, particularly in high-risk regions such as the Gulf of Guinea and the Gulf of Aden. Over recent years, both sides have participated in joint escort missions and exercises, including support for World Food Programme vessels.
“The EU and India share a strong commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific,” the EU stated, reaffirming shared principles such as respect for international law, territorial sovereignty, freedom of navigation, and peaceful dispute resolution, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
This exercise follows the February visit to India by the EU College of Commissioners, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. A key outcome of that visit was greater cooperation on maritime domain awareness, shared assessments, and coordination.
In March, the fourth EU-India maritime security dialogue emphasized joint efforts to tackle illicit maritime activities and promote new initiatives aligned with mutual strategic goals. In April, Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano, Commander of Operation Atalanta, visited India to further deepen collaboration with the Indian Navy.
Operation Atalanta, launched in 2008 to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden, has since expanded to address broader maritime threats including arms trafficking, narcotics, and illegal fishing in the Horn of Africa and western Indian Ocean.
This upcoming exercise marks a continued effort by India and the EU to ensure maritime stability and foster regional security through sustained naval engagement.
