📰 Why in the News?
- EUNAVFOR (EU Naval Force) under Operation ATALANTA has proposed a joint maritime drill with the Indian Navy.
- Scheduled for late May 2025, the exercise will be held in the Western Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
🤝 Objective of the Exercise
- Strengthen naval coordination between European and Indian forces.
- Enhance maritime security in light of:
=) Resurgent piracy near the Horn of Africa
=) Geopolitical instability due to Houthi activity in the Red Sea
⚓ What’s New This Time?
- Going beyond PASSEX (Passage Exercises)
- Includes:
=) Advanced tactical manoeuvres
=) Counter-piracy operations
=) Inter-naval communications training
🌍 Why It Matters
- Though piracy incidents have recently declined, tensions remain high.
A resilient security framework is needed to prevent escalation and protect key maritime routes
️ About Operation ATALANTA
- Launched: 2008
- Mandate: EU’s naval mission for the Western Indian Ocean & Red Sea
- Initial Focus: Counter-piracy off Somalia’s coast
📌 Expanded Mission Includes:
- 🥫 Protection of WFP (World Food Programme) vessels
- 🔫 Monitoring of arms embargo on Somalia
- 🚫 Surveillance of drug & arms trafficking
- 🎣 Combating Illegal, Unreported & Unregulated (IUU) fishing
- 🌿 Disrupting illegal charcoal trade