In a historic first, two European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ships, ESPS Reina Sofia of the Spanish Navy and ITS Antonio Marceglia of the Italian Navy, made their maiden port call at Mumbai, India. The ships were docked at Mumbai from 26th May to 01st June, as part of an Operational Turnaround (OTR), marking a significant step in bolstering India-EU defense diplomacy, particularly pertaining to maritime security.
The maiden visit of these ships is the result of a previous dialogue held between the Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, and the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. The bilateral meeting between these not only discussed the possibility of a joint maritime frontier, but also reinforced the notion of international oceanic peace and security, nodding to a rules-based global order.
EUNAVFOR Highlights Strategic Engagements at Command Level
The maiden voyage of these EUNAVFOR ships is quite significant, especially amidst the evolving geopolitical landscape, and opens the possibilities of strategic engagements at the command level.
The EUNAVFOR delegation, led by Rear Admiral Davide Da Pozzo, Force Commander of Operation Atalanta, held high-level consultations with Rear Admiral Vidyadhar Harke, VSM, Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Western Naval Command, Indian Navy. The meeting, conducted at the Western Naval Command Headquarters in Mumbai, focused on expanding bilateral naval cooperation and maritime security frameworks.
The meeting saw both parties agreeing on a bilateral partnership in the Indian Ocean Region and discussed the critical need for a coordinated front, especially to respond to non-traditional and modern threats in the maritime region. Thus, the arrival of the EUNAVFOR vessels will serve as a foundation for enhanced interoperability, capacity-building, and joint naval domain awareness.
Joint Exercise at Sea and Tabletop Exercise in Mumbai
The crew of both EUNAVFOR ships participated in several structured harbor-phase activities such as Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) and a Table Top Exercise (TTX), along with their Indian counterparts. These activities allowed both parties to gain deep insights into best operational practices in counter-piracy, anti-smuggling, and maritime interdiction operations.
The exercises also served as a means to consolidate joint understanding on tactical-level procedures and refine doctrinal approaches to address common maritime challenges. In light of the success of these exercises, a joint naval exercise has also been planned to be helmed by the Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR once the ships depart from Mumbai.
Joint Sea Exercise to Follow Mumbai Port Call
The ships departed from the harbor and will engage in the joint sea exercise alongside the Indian Navy’s ships and coastal patrol vessels. Earlier this year, the Navy also held a joint exercise with its French counterpart in the 23rd edition of the Varuna. The upcoming drill activity will include complex tactical maneuvers, focusing primarily on coordinated naval response, communication protocols, and interdiction techniques to improve real-time maritime coordination.
Reinforcing Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific
The arrival of the European ships also underlines the strategic importance of a rules-based maritime order, which is vital to ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The coordinated efforts of both parties will strive to ensure the security of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and protect legitimate trade routes. Towards this, both sides have reaffirmed their intent to safeguard the freedom of navigation and counter threats such as piracy, trafficking, and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Commitment To Expand Multi-Domain Partnership
India and the European Union continue to deepen their multi-domain strategic partnership, particularly in defense and security. As both regions face evolving maritime threats, closer collaboration is vital to achieving strategic resilience, technological cooperation, and logistics interoperability.
The maiden visit of EUNAVFOR ships to Indian shores is not merely symbolic; it marks a substantial step toward operationalizing common strategic objectives in the maritime region. By engaging in combined operations, capability sharing, and dialogue, both sides are laying the groundwork for a future-ready partnership equipped to counter emerging security challenges.
