Dear reader,
One of the guiding principles behind Atalanta's day-to-day work is to help develop a solid network between maritime safety partners. As I am intimately convinced, a united effort ranging from information sharing to operational cooperation is key in tackling common threats on the free flow of navigation in the Western Indian Ocean.
With this objective in mind, ATALANTA has taken important steps in its cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman, conducting a joint activity at sea with the Royal Navy warship SADH and the Maritime Security Centre of Oman. This milestone consolidates the Protocol signed by the Maritime Security Centre of Oman and EUNAVFOR ATALANTA last 14 June 2024. This activity has been crucial to strengthen the interoperability between our forces at sea.
An operational condition that we have also strengthened thanks to exercises at sea with international partner such as Japan, in support of the Combined Maritime Force. In addition, the several engagement developed by the Force Commander in the region, especially in Djibouti are also key to reinforce this regional maritime security architecture.
It is a reflection of the network of relationships created with maritime security partners that Senior Indian officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence visited Operation ATALANTA’s Headquarters. The exchanges we had enabled Atalanta to deepen its relationship with a key maritime security provider in the area. I believe that each of us has been able to learn from the other, to enable action that is more effective at sea.
ATALANTA will continue to work for remaining a reference point in the fight against piracy and to support fully the regional maritime security architecture in the area. This structure together with the cooperation between partners ensures the best timely and effective response to any event in this complex area.
Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Operation Commander
On 4 September 2024, senior officials from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence visited the Operation ATALANTA Headquarters in Rota, Spain.
Facilitated by the EU Delegation to India and the EU co-funded project “Enhancing Security Cooperation In and with Asia” (ESIWA), the visit aimed at familiarising Indian officials with the EU's security and defence mechanisms while exploring potential cooperation with Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and in the Indo-Pacific. The visit to Rota was the second part of the delegation’s trip of the European institutions, and assisted the guests to understand how the CSDP is implemented in practice.
The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary, Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division, MEA, and accompanied by the Defence Attaché of the EU Delegation to India, Captain (Navy) Fabrizio Falzi. On the ATALANTA side, Operation Commander Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano welcomed.
On 16 September, the Commander of the Spanish Joint Operational Command, Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero Martínez, visited the EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Operation Headquarters (OHQ). This was his first visit after taking over the command in early September.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Operation Commander, Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano, welcomed Lieutenant General Agüero, and briefed him on the Operation's current mandate, activities and challenges, and the continuous adaptation to the complex area of operations.
Lieutenant General Agüero also visited the next Operation ATALANTA flagship, ESPS SANTA MARIA, moored in Naval Base Rota.
Spain is one of the 20 contributing nations to EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, providing the largest contribution by means and personnel to this EU operation.
On 30 September, the Director of Crimario II - Project, Mr. Martin Cauchi Inglott visited
the Operation ATALANTA Operations Headquarters. Discussions on common issues and future cooperation between both parties were held. Collaboration with CRIMARIO is ongoing through the use of the info-sharing IORIS platform in activities such as the exercise ‘ALDABRA III’ in Seychelles.
On 3 September, taking advantage of the port visit to Djibouti, the Operation ATALANTA Force Commander, Rear Admiral Manuel Alvargonzález, was able to hold several meetings with various representatives of regional and international authorities.
First, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Force Commander met with the European Union Ambassador to Djibouti, H.E. Mrs Sylvie Tabesse. These regular encounters are excellent opportunities to brief the Ambassador on the latest ATALANTA activities and exercises with the Djiboutian forces. Cooperation with this country is crucial for ATALANTA and the coordination and support of the Delegation of the European Union to Djibouti is fundamental to success.
Finally, Force Commander wished “Fair winds and Following seas” to HE Tabesse on behalf of the Operation Commander and all ATALANTA personnel, ending Her appointment as EU Ambassador to Djibouti.
Following the meeting with the EU Ambassador, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Force Commander met with the Commander of the French Forces stationed in Djibouti, Brigadier General Sébastien Vallette. French forces in Djibouti provide key support to ATALANTA, maintaining a very active partnership.
Moreover, France is also one of the 20 contributing nations to the Operation, which includes personnel in the Support Element to ATALANTA deployed in Djibouti.
Furthermore, Operation ATALANTA Force Headquarters staff, paid a visit to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in Djibouti.
They were welcomed by Commanding Officer Colonel Tominaga Makoto and discussed the multiple joint activities conducted by both forces, shared challenges and seeked new opportunities to enhance mutual support and close cooperation.
The partnership with Japanese Self-Defense Forces is one of the longest and closest to ATALANTA.
Finally, at the end of his visit to Djibouti, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA Force Commander, met with the Commander of the Djiboutian Navy Captain Ahmed Daher Djama on 5 September.
The discussions aimed at strengthening the relationship and exploring avenues for further cooperation.
On 16 September, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA flagship ESPS NUMANCIA and the JS SAMIDARE conducted a joint exercise at sea.
During the activity, the Force Commander of Operation ATALANTA, Rear Admiral Alvargonzález, and a delegation from the Force Headquarters had the opportunity to visit the Japanese warship. They were transferred by helicopter and welcomed by the Commanding Officer of the Japanese warship. They learned first-hand about the development of the exercise from a different perspective, the different procedures and life on board.
A delegation from the JS SAMIDARE also visited the Spanish ship to learn about the procedures of their counterparts.
The JS SAMIDARE is part of the Combined Maritime Forces Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) and focuses on the fight against piracy in the area.
These joint activities are conducted on a regular basis, underlining the permanent strong relationship between EUNAVFOR and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) as key maritime security partners in the Western Indian Ocean.
On 17 September, during a port visit to Salalah (Oman), Operation ATALANTA Force Commander met the Commander of the Royal Omani Navy’s Southern Naval Area, Captain Ali Al Khalidi.
ATALANTA Force Commander stressed the key role of Omani ports for the Operation and highlighted the cooperation on information sharing between the Royal Navy of Oman and ATALANTA assets. This is key to counter common threats and provide a safer maritime domain in the region.
On 18 September, Operation ATALANTA flagship ESPS NUMANCIA conducted a joint activity at sea with the warship SADH of the Royal Navy from the Sultanate of Oman and the Maritime Security Centre of the Sultanate of Oman. This is one more step forward to consolidate the cooperation and the information sharing between the Maritime Security Centre and units from both forces. The joint effort of maritime security partners ensures maximum effectiveness in addressing common threats at sea in the complex area of operations.
Prior to the joint activity at sea, a Command Post Exercise was conducted to test and adjust all planned activities and to ensure the exchange of information between all participants.
The Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft VIGMA D-4 is Operation ATALANTA's eyes in the sky. On 24 September, the new rotation completed its first flight during its autumn deployment. Deployed in Djibouti, the air asset is key to boost maritime security by surveillance and monitoring.
During the month of September, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA integrated ships from Spain, Italy and France in different support modalities.
In addition, the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), the Spanish Air Force's VIGMA-D4, is already deployed in Djibouti.
In September, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA celebrated the Malta Independence day.
