Operation ATALANTA

The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation ATALANTA has proposed a joint naval exercise with the Indian Navy, scheduled for late May. Unlike the routine Passage Exercises (PASSEX) previously conducted, this exercise is expected to be more comprehensive in scope.

Key Highlights

• Operating in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, Operation ATALANTA was launched in 2008 to combat piracy off the Somali coast.

• Its mission has since expanded to include the protection of World Food Programme (WFP) vessels and vulnerable maritime traffic; enforcement of the arms embargo on Somalia; and surveillance of narcotics and arms trafficking, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and illicit charcoal trade.

• This initiative reflects growing maritime cooperation between the EU and India in maintaining security and stability in a strategically vital region.