The frigate ‘Reina Sofía’, deployed in operation ‘Atalanta’, takes part in a joint exercise with the Indian Navy

• This is the first time that EU and Indian vessels have cooperated and trained together for maritime security in the Arabian Sea

After a week of joint planning, during their docking in port in Bombay (India), the Spanish frigate ‘Santa María’ and the Italian ship ‘Marceglia’, both deployed in Operation ‘Atalanta’, have carried out a multinational exercise with surface and air assets belonging to the Indian Navy in the waters of the Arabian Sea.

This exercise is an operational milestone, as it is the first time that naval forces from the European Union and India have joined forces to participate together in training exercises at sea, thus demonstrating the interoperability between friendly navies, but also the excellent relations between the three countries - India, Spain and Italy - and the common interest in maritime security.

During the exercise, the European Union vessels simulated a scenario in which a merchant ship was the victim of a piracy attack, with the aim of training cooperation between the naval units of Operation Atalanta and the resources of the Indian Navy. In this context, it is worth noting that the coordination between the frigate ‘Reina Sofía’ and the Indian maritime surveillance aircraft (Maritime Patrol Aircraft - MPA), which made it possible to monitor the evolution of the situation on board the merchant ship.

To resolve the situation and free the hostages, a special operations team from the Special Naval Warfare Force on board the Spanish frigate planned an assault with information provided by the Indian frigate ‘Trikand’ - the first ship to arrive on the scene - and the Indian MPA aircraft. During the assault, the helicopter from the Italian ship ‘Marceglia’ provided fire support.

Throughout the exercise, EUNAVFOR Force Headquarters, aboard the Italian ship ‘Luigi Rizzo’, maintained tactical command and coordinated the actions carried out by the Indian, Spanish and Italian units in the Arabian Sea. All in all, an international exercise that has made it possible to demonstrate that, in the face of threats at sea, international coordination is always a fundamental key to success.

‘Operation Atalanta’.

Operation Atalanta is the result of a number of UN resolutions adopted following the increase in acts of piracy in the Indian Ocean from 2005 onwards, and, with Spain's strong support, it became the first EU naval operation to be carried out within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

At the end of 2024, the EU Council approved the extension of the operation's mandate until 28 February 2027, reflecting the achievements and challenges for the future. Throughout this time, the area of operations has been expanded under successive mandates and now encompasses the Gulf of Aden and neighbouring countries, including the port and city of Muscat (Oman), the Somali Basin, the Red Sea, and the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba.

Spain is currently contributing to Operation Atalanta with approximately 350 military personnel, as well as the following assets and units:

The Operation Headquarters, OHQ, at the Rota naval base.

A frigate/warship.

A mixed airborne unit (UNAEMB), consisting of helicopter and ScanEagle UAV.

An Embarked Special Operations team during inter-monsoon periods only, or an Operational Security Team (OST) during all other periods.

A maritime reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft (DAT ‘Orion’) in Djibouti during inter-monsoon periods.

Liaison Offices located in Mogadishu (Somalia), Manama (Bahrain), Brussels (Belgium) and Port Victoria (Seychelles).

Operation Logistics Support Unit deployed in Djibouti (Djibouti)

As a sign of our commitment to security in the region, Spain has been the only European Union country to have participated continuously in Operation Atalanta since its launch.