The frigate ‘Canarias’ calls at the port of Antsiranana as part of Operation ‘Atalanta’

•  The Spanish vessel called at this city in Madagascar to strengthen cooperation with local authorities and armed forces

The frigate ‘Canarias’, part of the European Union’s Operation EUNAVFOR Atalanta, has called at the port of Antsiranana, Madagascar.

During her stopover, the ship’s commander — Commander Juan David García García — made several official visits to key local authorities. These included the Prefect of Antsiranana, the Commander-in-Chief of the region’s Land Forces, and the Commander of the Malagasy Navy’s Naval Base. Additionally, several Spanish residents of Antsiranana came on board the frigate.

These institutional meetings have helped to strengthen ties of cooperation and mutual trust between the two countries, as well as to exchange views on the maritime security situation in the region and opportunities for collaboration in the naval sphere.

At the operational level, the crew carried out theoretical and practical training activities for members of the Malagasy Navy, focusing on firefighting on board. These sessions contributed to the exchange of knowledge and capability building, in line with the objectives of international cooperation and support for countries in the region regarding maritime security established for the deployment.

Following the stopover, the frigate ‘Canarias’ has resumed its voyage in the waters of the Indian Ocean to carry on with her mission to safeguard freedom of navigation in an area of special strategic interest to Spain and the European Union, deterring piracy and other illicit activities in the region.