IN-EUNAVFOR (Indian Navy – European Union Naval Force) Exercise in Gulf Of Aden

What is the News?

The IN-EUNAVFOR (Indian Navy – European Union Naval Force) Exercise is being conducted in the Gulf Of Aden for the first time.

About IN-EUNAVFOR Exercise:

• The IN-EUNAVFOR exercise is being conducted for the first time.
• Aim: To enhance and improve war-fighting skills. It also aims to promote their ability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the maritime domain.
• Participants: Along with the Indian Navy, the other countries participating in the exercise are: Italy, Spain and France.
• The exercise includes advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, tactical manoeuvres, Search & Rescue, and other maritime security operations.
  • From the Indian side, Stealth frigate INS Trikand is participating in the exercise.

India-EUNAVFOR Cooperation:

• EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy converge on multiple issues. Such as counter-piracy operations and protection of vessels deployed under the charter of the World Food Programme(UN WFP).
• The two navies also have regular interaction through SHADE (Shared Awareness and Deconfliction) meetings held annually in Bahrain.
  • SHADE is an international operational counter-piracy platform, convened in Bahrain.
  • It aims to encourage partners for sharing information, assessing the evolution of trends. SHADE also de-conflict operations amongst counter-piracy actors in the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman and the Western Indian Ocean.
• Moreover, a virtual Information sharing Exercise is also being conducted between the Indian Navy Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region and Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa, an integral part of EUNAVFOR.

Source: PIB