EUNAVFOR
2021 JUN 22
Preliminary >
International Relations > International Institutions > Organisations
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