EU recognised India's right to protect itself after ‘barbaric' Pahalgam attack—envoy on Op Sindoor
The EU, Delphin said, also welcomes the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan and hopes for more stability in the region, Delphin added Thursday.
Mumbai: The European Union's ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin, has emphasised that the 27-nation bloc, which has been looking to improve cooperation with India in defence and security, recognised India's right to protect and defend itself after the Pahalgam attack.
The diplomat added, 'I would like to refer to what the EU has stated on the 8 May. There was a strong condemnation by the EU and recognition by the EU of the right of India to protect itself and to defend itself… we welcome the cessation of hostilities. We look forward to more stability in the region.'
The ambassador spoke to reporters in Mumbai onboard the Reina Sofia, one of the two ships of the EU naval force's anti-piracy exercise, Operation Atalanta, on a port call in Mumbai. The Spanish ship Reina Sofia and the Italian ship Antonio Marceglia will participate in a joint naval exercise with ships of the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean from 1 to 3 June.
The ambassador, along with Rear Admiral Davide Da Pozzo, force commander of the EUNAVFOR Atalanta, also said the EU is looking to deepen its cooperation with India on the defence and maritime security sectors. Delphin said there was a new EU-India strategic agenda in the works within the EU that will set the base for negotiating a joint roadmap with India.
'On the EU's side, we will have a presentation in a few weeks on a new EU-India strategic agenda. That will set our basis for negotiating a joint roadmap in India. This should be endorsed by our leaders at the next EU-India summit in 2026,' Delphin said.
The ambassador further said the EU is looking to widen and deepen cooperation with India across at least 50 sectors, with the defence and security dimension having been added to the list in 2021, calling it an area of 'impressive development'.
🇪🇺🤝🇮🇳 are set to conduct joint naval exercises in the #IndianOcean, focusing on counter-piracy operations, interoperability, tactical manoeuvres, & more! 🚢 🇪🇺 @EUNAVFOR frigates – 🇮🇹 Antonio MARCEGLIA and 🇪🇸 REINA SOFÍA – are in Mumbai to take part. https://t.co/vp6GyL1WqF pic.twitter.com/KJXgXmqHDy
— EU in India (@EU_in_India) May 29, 2025
He added that the maritime summit, the joint exercise and the talks across sectors show that there is action and the call for cooperation between the EU and India is not just political talk.
Speaking to ThePrint, the ambassador said, there is potential for the cooperation to not just be seen in military operations, but also in the defence industries of both countries.
'Not only is India an importer of military, but it is also an exporter and producer. So I think this is where I would say both the dispensations of both sides and the defence industries have to find a way to cooperate. We are at the cusp of potentially developing such cooperation,' he said. He added that there will be further discussions on moving to a higher level in developing 'true partnerships' in defence and security.
'I really hope that by the next EU-India summit, there will be something concrete and announcements will be made,' he said. The next summit is likely to take place in late 2025.
Better cooperation on India-EU maritime security
Delphin said both the EU and India recognise each other as maritime security providers in the Indian Ocean, and it is in the common interests of both countries to develop cooperation at sea.
'About 30-40 percent of our imports and exports sail through the Indian ocean so free and open access in this channel is important for both the EU and India,' he said. 'Both India and EU share common interests and commitments to a free, open, inclusive, rule-based maritime order.'
The joint exercise follows the fourth EU-India Maritime Security dialogue in March 2025, where, according to an EU statement, both sides emphasised cooperation on countering 'illicit maritime activities'. This was followed by EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Operation Commander, Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano's visit to India.
On Thursday, speaking to reporters about the joint exercises, Rear Admiral Da Pozzo, 'We have coordination. We have some exercises, and having these exercises helps us know there is scope for improvement on working on the same means, channels, sharing information and so on.'
Operation Atalanta was launched in 2008 to boost maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
Next week's joint exercise between the Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA will focus on advanced counter-piracy operations and better communication protocols.
EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy have held joint exercises in the past in the Gulf of Guinea and the Gulf of Aden.
Moreover, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA warships deployed in the Indian Ocean have also conducted 'passing exercises' with the Indian Navy. Such an exercise involves two or more warships sailing alongside each other as a visual demonstration of coordination.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
Also Read: Estonia keen to collaborate with India on defence production, says Estonian foreign secretary
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