Context: For the first time, the Indian Navy is participating in the IN – EUNAVFOR joint naval exercise with warships from the Italian, Spanish and French Navies, in the Gulf Of Aden. 

• IN – EUNAVFOR : It stands for Indian Navy and European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR)

Concurrently, a virtual “Information Sharing Exercise" is also being conducted between the Indian Navy Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region and Maritime Security Centre in the Horn of Africa.

Key Points

• Indian Naval Ship Trikand participated in the exercise, which is currently deployed for anti-piracy operations.
• Total of five warships from four navies participated in the exercise held on 18th & 19th
• Other warships that participated in exercise include Italian Navy Ship ITS Carabinere, two French Navy Ship FS Tonnerre & FS Surcouf and Spanish Navy Ship ESPS Navarra.

Importance
Under this, EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy converge on multiple issues including counter piracy operations and protection of vessels deployed under the charter of World Food Programme (UN WFP).

• "This engagement showcases increased levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between IN and EUNAVFOR. 
• It also underscores the shared values as partner navies, in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based international order," .
• The two-day exercise will see high tempo-naval operations at sea, including advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, cross-deck helicopter operations, tactical manoeuvres, boarding operations, underway replenishment, search and rescue, man overboard drills, and other maritime security operations.

Other Initiatives
SHADE (Shared Awareness and De-confliction) 

• The two also hold regular interactions through SHADE (Shared Awareness and De-confliction) meetings annually in Bahrain.
• It highlights their shared values of ensuring freedom of seas.

By: Shubham Tiwari