Operation ATALANTA: the frigate “Navarra” calls at Madagascar

• Over several days, the Spanish warship has carried out various military and goodwill activities on behalf of the European Union and Spain with this African country

The frigate Navarra, flagship of Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, has docked in the city of Antsiranana, Madagascar, where it has carried out a programme of activities aimed at strengthening ties between Operation ATALANTA and the Malagasy Navy, as well as between Spain and Madagascar.

On the first day, the Force Commander (FCDR) of ATALANTA, Spanish Rear Admiral Francisco Javier Vázquez Sanz, visited the “Rear Admiral Sibon Guy Albert” Naval Base in Antsiranana. During the visit, the FCDR was given a presentation on the resources available to the Malagasy Navy. He also had the opportunity to visit the national maritime security centre, located at the same base.

During these meetings with national military authorities, Rear Admiral Vázquez reaffirmed the importance of the European mission in the Western Indian Ocean, as well as the essential need to strengthen cooperation between African nations and the European Union to ensure security in this highly relevant geostrategic region.

The following day, a delegation of students from the Malagasy Navy visited the Navarra, where they had the opportunity to learn about the European operation to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden. They were shown the resources available to the frigate to ensure the fulfilment of this mission and shared reflections on different aspects of maritime security.

A group of students also received theoretical and practical training in fire control. In this joint training activity, members of the crew instructed the Malagasy military personnel on the best practices for dealing with the most common safety incidents onboard.

Finally, the Force Commander held a virtual meeting with the director of the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC), to whom he conveyed the European Union's interest in maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, as well as reflecting on the role of Operation ATALANTA in more than fifteen years of continuous naval presence.

All these activities have served to strengthen the ties between the Operation and the Malagasy authorities, ties that are essential for the Operation to continue to effectively preserve security in the Western Indian Ocean, while at the same time reinforcing bilateral relations between Madagascar and Spain in the field of defence.

The frigate Navarra in ATALANTA

The Navarra, based in Rota, Cadiz, joined Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA on 11 June. Under the command of Commander Valentin Calvar Cerecedo, the crew numbers more than 220 military personnel, including those belonging to the Shipborne Air Unit (with an SH-60B helicopter and an SCAN EAGLE unmanned vehicle), the Marine Corps Security Task Force and members of the Operation's General Staff, under the command of Rear Admiral Vázquez.

At the end of 2024, the Council of the EU approved the extension of the Operation's mandate until 28 February 2027, reflecting the achievements made and the challenges for the future. Since its launch, the area of operations of ATALANTA has been expanded in successive mandates and currently covers 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.

As a sign of our commitment to security in the region, Spain has been the only European Union country to participate continuously in Operation ATALANTA since its deployment began 16 years ago.