India and the European Union carried out their first joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Guineathis week, reflecting growing maritime security cooperation between the two sides.

• The exercise took place, around three weeks after the EU-India Maritime Security Dialogue in Brussels deliberated on ways to expand cooperation in the maritime sphere. 
• The defence ministry said the exercise reflected the breadth and dynamism of EU-India cooperation on maritime security, and signalled the common determination to uphold the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• It said the drills were aimed reinforcing naval maritime security cooperation in support of the region.
• During the exercise, Indian Navy’s INS Sumedha, an offshore patrol vessel, was joined by ships from three EU member states.