Latest news with #IgnacioVillanuevaSerrano
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
India, EU set to carry out joint naval exercise in Indian Ocean
New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): India and the European Union (EU) will conduct a three-day joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean from June 1 to June 3, reflecting their growing defence and strategic cooperation. The joint exercise will focus on advanced counter-piracy operations, interoperability, tactical manoeuvres, and enhanced communication protocols, reflecting the growing maritime security cooperation between the two sides. The respective Maritime Operations Centres (MOC) will control the exercise, according to a press release from the European Union The exercise will involve Indian Navy ships and two frigates of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation ATALANTA, Italian ship Antonio MARCEGLIA and Spanish ship REINA SOFIA, along with their respective air assets. The EU and India are increasing cooperation on maritime security. The EU and India share a strong commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region. This is underpinned by the respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, democracy, rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the release stated. This exercise builds on the visit of the College of Commissioners to India in February 2025. One of the key deliverables was to enhance engagement on maritime domain awareness with a view to promoting shared assessment, coordination and interoperability. The fourth EU-India Maritime Security Dialogue held in March 2025 also emphasised countering illicit maritime activities and exploring new joint maritime initiatives aligning with the objectives of this exercise. Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano, Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, visited India in April to elevate bilateral cooperation with the Indian Navy. Naval cooperation between the EU and India has expanded in recent years with joint exercises in the Gulf of Guinea and Gulf of Aden. The Indian Navy has also been providing escort to World Food Programme chartered vessels, coordinated by EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA, according to the release. Launched in 2008 to tackle piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden, Operation ATALANTA's mandate has evolved. It encompasses a broad range of security challenges, including counter-narcotics, arms smuggling, and combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Horn of Africa and western Indian Ocean. EUNAVFOR ATALANTA warships deployed in the Indian Ocean have conducted 'Passing Exercises' (PASSEX) at sea with the Indian Navy in the past. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India, EU to conduct joint naval exercise in Indian Ocean on June 1-3
NEW DELHI: India and the European Union (EU) will conduct a three-day joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean, reflecting the growing security cooperation between the two sides. The joint exercise, scheduled for June 1-3, will involve Indian Navy warships and two frigates, one from Italy and another from Spain, deployed with the European Union Naval Force's Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean. 'The joint exercise will focus on advanced counter-piracy operations, interoperability, tactical manoeuvres, and enhanced communication protocols, reflecting the growing maritime security cooperation between the two sides,' the EU said in a statement on Thursday. Naval cooperation between the EU and India has expanded in recent years through joint exercises in the Gulf of Guinea and Gulf of Aden. The Indian Navy has been providing escort to vessels chartered by the World Food Programme in coordination with Operation Atalanta. India and the EU have increased cooperation on maritime security in recent years, and several members of the European bloc have come out with their strategies for the Indo-Pacific. 'The EU and India share a strong commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region,' the statement said. This commitment is underpinned by the respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, democracy, rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, especially the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The joint exercise will build on the visit to India by the EU College of Commissioners led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in February. One of the key deliverables of that visit was enhanced engagement on maritime domain awareness in order to promote shared assessment, coordination and interoperability. The fourth EU-India maritime security dialogue, held in March, emphasised the need for cooperation to counter illicit maritime activities and explore new joint maritime initiatives aligned with the objectives of the joint exercise. Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano, the operation commander of Operation Atalanta, visited India in April to bolster cooperation with the Indian Navy. Operation Atalanta was launched in 2008 to tackle piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden, and it's mandate has evolved with the passage of time to include a range of security challenges, including counter-narcotics, arms smuggling and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Horn of Africa and the western Indian Ocean. Warships from EU member states deployed with Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean have conducted passing exercises or 'passex' with the Indian Navy in the past.
