- The new Force rotation is commanded by a Spanish Admiral, Rear Admiral Vázquez Sanz, and the Spanish ship, ESPS NUMANCIA is the new flagship of the Operation.
- Italy was leading the Force Command in the previous rotation on board Italian ship ITS Bianchi as flagship of the Operation.
On 10 June 2026, Italian Rear Admiral Daniele Paolo Martinuzzi ended his command of the 52nd rotation as Force Commander of EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA. He assumed command of Task Force 465 on 24 February 2026 and, together with his staff, responded to several piracy-related incidents, including the case of the ALWASEEMI, which was resolved in March, as well as the three ongoing piracy cases involving the merchant vessels EUREKA, SWARD, and HONOUR 25.
The ceremony was chaired by the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Deputy Operation Commander, Rear Admiral Paolo Fantoni. Rear Admiral Martinuzzi handed over command to Spanish Rear Admiral Francisco Javier Vázquez Sanz who will lead ATALANTA forces for a second time, having previously served as Force Commander from June to October 2025.
Rear Admiral Vázquez Sanz and his command staff is embarked aboard the new ATALANTA flagship, ESPS NUMANCIA.
