The event was co-organized by the Italian Embassy in India and the National Maritime Foundation.
On 12 August, the EU NAVFOR Atalanta Deputy Commander, Italian Rear Admiral Giovanni Galoforo, participated in the Seminar “Enhancing the Indo-Pacific security network in the maritime domain: an EU perspective”, held in Mumbai (India). The seminar was co-organized by the Italian Embassy in India and the National Maritime Foundation, India’s first maritime think-tank for the conduct of independent and policy-relevant research on all maritime matters.
Representing the European Union and Operation Atalanta, Admiral Galoforo highlighted in his intervention the relevance of the dedicated EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a significant commitment, with which the EU is stepping up the strategic engagement in this vital region. Also, the EU Coordinated Maritime Presences (CMP) concept in the Northwest Indian Ocean (NWIO) was a paramount element of discussion. CMP NWIO promotes the presence of EU Member States’ naval assets, the coordination with EU capacity building initiatives, and interaction with partners in the region.
In addition, Admiral Galoforo presented EU NAVFOR to the distinguished audience: a short background, achievements and the new horizon faced by the Operation in this dynamic and challenging area of operation. Therefore, cooperation with key partners in maritime security, such as India, is principal to ensure the essential freedom of navigation and stability in the Western Indian Ocean.
As an example of this cooperation the EU NAVFOR flagship, ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE, conducted recently a joint activity at sea with the Indian Navy destroyer INS VISAKHAPATNAM, off the Omani Coast on 6 August. During the activity, EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Rear Admiral Fabrizio Rutteri, was hosted on board the Indian destroyer by the Flag Officer of the Western Indian Fleet, Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty, who on his part visited ITS DURAND DE LA PENNE.
Also, the previous day, Admiral Galoforo met with Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, Distinguished Fellow at Observer Research Foundation; Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Chief of Staff, Western Naval Command; Ms Manjeet Kriplani, Co-Founder and Director of Gateway House, and Rear Admiral DK Goswami, Admiral Superintendent, Naval Dockyard Mumbai.
In this context, Admiral Galoforo stressed that Atalanta is more than ships, supporting EU initiatives in maritime domain awareness such as the Indo Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) tool developed by the Critical Maritime Routes Indo-Pacific (CRIMARIO) project, and keeping in permanent contact with the shipping industry through EU NAVFOR Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), and the international Shared Awareness and De-confliction (SHADE) conference, whose 51st reiteration will be held in Bahrein on 11 and 12 October.
Finally, on behalf of the EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta Commander, Spanish Vice Admiral José M. Nuñez Torrente, and the European Union, Atalanta Admiral Galoforo had the opportunity to thank to India and Italy for organizing the seminar at a time of utmost importance.
India remains one of the most relevant actors and the EU and EU NAVFOR are looking forward to work together “Towards a Sustainable and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region”.
