Latest news with #OperationAtalanta
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
EU recognised India's right to protect itself after ‘barbaric' Pahalgam attack—envoy on Op Sindoor
'On Operation Sindoor, the EU has stated very clearly what its position was. A few hours after the terrorist attack, there was a strong condemnation by the EU of this barbaric act. There were constant exchanges between the EU and India to keep each other informed about developments,' he said. 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. — 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
Hindustan Times
4 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.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Military Plane Crashes In South Korea: What To Know
A South Korean navy plane crashed during a training flight on Thursday, military officials said, with the fates of four people on board unknown. The P-3C patrol plane left its base in the southeastern coastal city of Pohang at 1.43 p.m. local time, but later crashed due to unknown reasons, the navy said. The plane is believed to have come down on a mountainside, KBS World reported. An emergency office in Pohang said that rescue workers and fire trucks were dispatched to the site after receiving reports from local residents that an unidentified aircraft had crashed and an explosion had been witnessed. Pohang's Nambu police station also said the crash involved a navy patrol aircraft and it could not immediately confirm whether there had been any deaths or injuries. Yonhap news agency reported that firefighters were trying to extinguish a fire and published a photo showing smoke billowing from the hills near a factory area in Pohang. Manufacturer Lockheed Martin describes the P-3 as a the world's "premier multi-mission maritime long-endurance aircraft," which can conduct air, surface and subsurface patrol and reconnaissance tasks. With more than 400 aircraft flown by 21 operators in 17 countries, the P-3 was critical in providing support for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina the following year, and the anti-piracy Operation Atalanta in the Gulf of Aden in 2009. This is a breaking story. More to follow. Related Articles China Tests US Ally in Disputed WatersUS Could Reduce Troop Presence Near North Korea: WSJDOD Responds to South Korea Troops Report: 'Not True'China Issues No-Go Zone in Disputed Waters Claimed by US Ally 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Daily Tribune
16-04-2025
- Daily Tribune
Pakistan, EU Naval Force Join Hands for Operation SEA SPIRIT to Combat Piracy in Gulf of Aden
Pakistan-led CTF 151 teams up with European Union Naval Force - Operation Atalanta for a counter-piracy focused operation SEA SPIRIT in the Gulf of Aden, April 21-26. Ships and aircraft from several nations will enhance presence in piracy-prone areas to deter and suppress piracy and armed robbery. SEA SPIRIT enjoys support from: JMICC Pakistan; DCOC, Kenya; MSC Oman; RCOC, Seychelles; RMIF Centre, Madagascar; and U.K. MTO, Dubai. #ReadyTogether
