EU NAVFOR continues its cooperation with India in counter-piracy operations
With over 10 years of ongoing counter-piracy operations in the Western Indian Ocean, the free-flow of international maritime trade has much improved, but it remains vital that this effort continues, EU NAVFOR says in a press release. Working with other maritime security partners becomes vital to continue this success.
A key partner in this work is India, who have been working alongside EU NAVFOR to continue to counter-piracy efforts. Recently they conducted World Food Programme (WFP) escort duties on 24-25 December 2018, as well as a Passex in 2017.
A high level EU Military delegation visited Mumbai on 24th January to continue discussions with Indian authorities to mark the importance of this relationship. The French destroyer, FS CASSARD hosted the EU delegation during a port call, in the framework of France’s bi-lateral cooperation with India. The delegation were able to meet with Chief of Staff of Indian Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh. The delegation comprised the EU Military Staff Director of Operations, Major General Daniel Grammatico, EU NAVFOR’s Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Giuseppe Rapese, the EU Ambassador Tomasz Kozlowski and French Ambassador Alexandre Ziegler, amongst others.
French ships, aircraft and personnel have continue to support EU NAVFOR’s work since 2008 and remain part of the EU efforts to ensure piracy remains deterred, prevented and repressed.