In an effort toward bolstering maritime security and regional stability, the Indian Navy and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) will conduct a joint naval exercise from June 1 to 3 in the Indian Ocean.
This initiative comes at a critical moment, set against the backdrop of IndiaтАЩs intensified counter-terror operations under Operation Sindoor and a broader international push to secure vital sea lanes.
The exercise, involving two EUNAVFOR frigatesтАФItalyтАЩs Antonio Marceglia and SpainтАЩs Reina SofiaтАФalongside Indian naval assets, aims to deepen interoperability in advanced counter-piracy operations, tactical manoeuvres, and secure communications. The exercise will be coordinated through both sidesтАЩ Maritime Operations Centres (MOC), underscoring a growing commitment to integrated maritime domain awareness.
This latest collaboration reflects a deepening EU-India strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region, rooted in shared principles of sovereignty, rule of law, and freedom of navigation.
Both sides have reaffirmed support for a rules-based international order as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Operation Sindoor
The timing of this naval exercise is particularly notable given the ongoing Indian initiativeтАФOperation SindoorтАФwhich has focused on dismantling terror networks and ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
This multi-agency maritime campaign is aimed at neutralizing potential sea-based threats, including arms trafficking, infiltration via the coast, and maritime terror logistics.
The joint EU-India exercise provides a vital platform to align operational doctrines in real-time scenarios, enhance maritime situational awareness, and deter non-state actors exploiting international waters.
Deepening Strategic Maritime Ties
The groundwork for this joint exercise was laid during several high-level engagements earlier this year. The visit by the College of EU Commissioners to India in February 2025 stressed on expanded maritime cooperation, while the Fourth EU-India Maritime Security Dialogue in March prioritized the fight against illicit maritime activities.
Additionally, the visit of Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano, Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, in April marked a key moment in cementing operational coordination with the Indian Navy.
Operation ATALANTA, the EUтАЩs long-standing mission in the western Indian Ocean, initially launched to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa, now covers a broader mandate including counter-narcotics and illegal fishing. Indian naval forces have previously cooperated with EUNAVFOR in the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Guinea, including joint escort missions for World Food Programme shipments.
Strategic Significance
As geopolitical tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific, exercises like this are not merely symbolic but operationally vital. For India, aligning with European maritime forces enhances its surveillance and deterrence capabilities. For the EU, engaging a major Indo-Pacific naval power strengthens its strategic footprint in the region.
As the EU and India navigate this new era of maritime security cooperation, the upcoming naval exercise serves as both a tactical drill and a strategic messageтАФasserting the importance of unity in safeguarding shared waters against emerging and traditional threats.
