BRUSSELS — The European Union (EU) and India intend to strengthen their operational cooperation at sea, including joint naval exercises and port calls, and to protect the sea-lanes of communication, according to an EU statement released Monday.

The EU and India also reaffirmed their interest to enhance their cooperation in the field of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. The statement noted that on June 18-19, the EU and India conducted a joint naval exercise in the Gulf of Aden.

The exercise was based on the scenario of an anti-piracy operation. It included cross-deck helicopter landings, complex tactical evolutions at sea, live firing, a night-time joint patrol and a naval parade in the high seas off the coast of Somalia.

The exercise involved Indian Navy frigate Trikand, EU NAVFOR Somalia — Operation Atalanta assets, including Italian frigate Carabiniere and Spanish frigate Navarra, French frigate Surcouf and French amphibious assault helicopter carrier Tonnerre.

The statement stressed that the EU and India are "committed to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region."

Last January, the EU and India launched a dialogue on maritime security and agreed to deepen their dialogue and cooperation in this domain.

A total of five warships from four navies were participating in the two-day exercise, the Indian Navy said.

“Ships of the four navies will endeavor to enhance and hone their war-fighting skills and their ability as an integrated force to promote, peace, security and stability in the maritime domain,” a statement from the Indian Navy said.

Concurrently, a virtual “Information sharing Exercise” was conducted between the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region and Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa on Friday.

The exercise would see high tempo-naval operations at sea, including advanced air defense and anti-submarine exercises, cross-deck helicopter operations, tactical maneuvers, boarding operations, under way replenishment, search and rescue, man overboard drills, and other maritime security operations, the statement said.

The EU NAVFOR and the Indian Navy converged on multiple issues, including counter-piracy operations and protection of vessels deployed under the charter of World Food Program, the Indian Navy said.

The two sides also have regular interaction through SHADE (Shared Awareness and De-confliction) meetings held annually in Bahrain.

“This engagement underscores the shared values as partner navies, in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive and a rules-based international order,” the Navy added. — Agencies