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With India, a companionship in the Indian Ocean

(B2) A delegation of EU military personnel visited New Delhi and Mumbai at the end of January. The opportunity to reaffirm the importance of relations between the EU and India.

(credits: EUNAVFOR Atalanta)

The purpose of the visit, which took place between 22 and 24 January, was to discuss opportunities for cooperation between the EU and India in defense and peacekeeping, as well as to reaffirm the European commitment in the fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean.

This visit was also an opportunity for General Daniel Grammatico, Director of Operations of the Military Staff, and for Rear Admiral Giuseppe Rapese, Deputy Commander of Operations of EUNAVFOR Atalanta, to visit the Fusion Center of information for the Indian Ocean region of the Indian Navy, which is connected to the maritime safety center of the EU established at the operations headquarters in Northwood, for a few more days (before moving to Brest).

Indo-European cooperation has become a concrete reality off the coast of Somalia, where India recently escorted the ships of the WFP (read: Indian ship escorts World Food Program ship).

This security rapprochement is grafted on the decision of the Council of the EU to establish a strategic partnership with India, adopted on December 10, 2018 (see: Notebook 21.11.2018)). Military cooperation and collaboration between the EU and India in the promotion of peace and security in the world have, in particular, been placed at the heart of this new strategy (see press release here).

(MHA)

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