The European Union’s naval force operating in the Indian Ocean on Thursday has proposed a joint military exercise with the Indian Navy. The planned exercise will focus on counter-piracy operations and enhancing interoperability. It is a huge step towards strengthening strategic security ties between India and the EU.

The proposal came when Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano, the Operation Commander of EU Naval Force Atalanta visited India recently. Speaking to a small group of reporters, Serrano stated that both sides hold a shared responsibility in maintaining the Indian Ocean as a “free, open, sustainable, and inclusive area free of dangers.” If the collaboration is approved by India, it is expected to take place by the end of May and will involve two EU warships.

Strengthening of Naval Ties

Naval force Atalanta, established in 2008, has often worked with the Indian Navy through smaller-scale “Passex” or passing exercises in the Indian Ocean. However, these exercises have so far remained limited in scope. The newly proposed drill takes the collaboration a step further. It will include advanced elements such as anti-piracy strategies, tactical naval manoeuvres, and real-time communication drills.

“I want the commanding officers of the vessels to know each other. I want the crew to get confidence. I want Atalanta and the Indian Navy to plan the exercise together,” said Serrano. He said that the importance of joint planning is to ensure operational effectiveness.

During his stay, Vice Admiral Serrano and his delegation met with prominent Indian military leaders. He visited the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command in Mumbai and also held high-level discussions at Navy headquarters and the Ministry of Defence in New Delhi. These meetings focused on planning and refining operational coordination, with piracy and broader maritime security issues as the primary objective of the agenda.

Europe in the Indo-Pacific

Since its formation in 2008, EU Naval Force Atalanta has played a quintessential role in dealing with piracy and armed robbery off Somalia’s coast. Over the years, its mandate expanded to include counter-narcotics, arms smuggling, monitoring fishing activities near the Horn of Africa, and tracking illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing across the western Indian Ocean.

Vice Admiral Serrano stated that despite a drop in piracy levels in the region, the threat has not disappeared. “The threat is still there and there will be more cases [of piracy], but we will fight it,” he said.

He appreciated the joint efforts with the Indian Navy, Atalanta, and the Mauritius Police Force that had already given out strong results. In the previous year alone, their joint operations led to the capture of 70 pirates , with 44 of them caught by Indian warships.

Serrano emphasised on Europe’s commitment to securing the Indian Ocean, despite France being the only EU member state with a permanent naval presence in the Indo-Pacific. France’s involvement holds a lot of importance because it has 93% of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the region and nearly 1.5 million citizens living across its island territories.

“I do not expect an increase [in EU presence] but I expect [the presence] to be maintained... Europe has an interest in the area, Europe is a good long-term partner and Europe should work for keeping this area free and open,” Serrano said.