EUNAVFOR

2021 JUN 22

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Why in news?

  • First ever India EUNAVFOR joint naval exercise is being conducted.

About EU NAVFOR:

  • Operation Atalanta, formally European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia, is a current counter-piracy military operation at sea off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean.
  • It is the first naval operation conducted by the European Union (EU).
  • The operational headquarters is currently located at the Spanish Operation Headquarters (ESOHQ) at Naval Station Rota (NAVSTA Rota) in Spain.
  • It is part of a larger global action by the EU to prevent and combat acts of piracy in the Indian Ocean.
  • It cooperates with the multinational Combined Task Force 151 of the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and NATO's anti-piracy Operation Ocean Shield.
  • The mission was launched in December 2008 with a focus on protecting Somalia-bound vessels and shipments belonging to the WFP and AMISOM, as well as select other vulnerable shipments.
  • In addition, Operation Atalanta monitors fishing activity on the regional seaboard and in 2012, the scope of the mission expanded to include Somali coastal territories and internal waters so as to co-ordinate counter-piracy operations with Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and regional administrations.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding EU NAVFOR:
1.It is the first naval operation conducted by the European Union.
2.Main objective of the operation is to protect European interests in Atlantic ocean.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question