Indian Naval Ship Trikand, mission deployed for Anti-Piracy Operations, is participating in the maiden IN – EUNAVFOR Joint Naval Exercise in the Gulf of Aden commencing on Friday.
A total of five warships from four navies are participating in the exercise on 18th and 19th June 2021. Other warships include Italian Navy Ship ITS Carabinere, Spanish Navy Ship ESPS Navarra, and two French Navy Ship FS Tonnerre and FS Surcouf.
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 & Rescue, Man Overboard drills, and other maritime security operations.
Ships of the four navies will endeavour 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. Concurrently, a virtual “Information sharing Exercise” is also being conducted between the Indian Navy Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region and Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa on 18 June 21.
EUNAVFOR and the Indian Navy converge on multiple issues including counter-piracy operations and protection of vessels deployed under the charter of the World Food Programme (UN WFP). Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR also have regular interaction through SHADE (Shared Awareness and De-confliction) meetings held annually in Bahrain. 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.
Vishal Sharma is an experienced Indian journalist, cyber security consultant, social activist, and poet writing under the pen name Surur Akbarabadi. With over two decades in journalism, he has worked across print, digital, and TV media, including notable roles at The Indian Express, The Pioneer, Indo-American Times, and Business Standard. He is currently the editor of Agra24.in, a bilingual news portal focused on Agra, which he co-founded to provide in-depth analysis and balanced reporting.
Based in Agra and Lucknow, Vishal balances his professional commitments with family life. Academically, he has studied Life Sciences, Law, and Business Management, and has pursued studies in journalism and mass communication. His journalism covers current affairs, business, and social issues, with a focus on factual reporting and avoiding controversial topics that could harm social harmony.
As a poet inspired by Urdu legends like Ghalib and Nazir Akbarabadi, Vishal’s work combines personal insight with societal critique. He actively promotes communal harmony through his role as Vice-Chairman of Hindustani Biradari, an organization founded to emphasize unity beyond religion and caste. He is also Secretary of the Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber and was also a member of Agra’s Heritage and History Conservation Committee, working to preserve the city’s cultural heritage.
Professionally, Vishal brings his cyber security expertise to his media work, enhancing the technical and editorial quality of his news platforms. His interests include photography and travel, particularly exploring India’s diverse landscapes and cultural heritage sites like Rajasthan, especially Sariska. His contributions reflect a steady commitment to journalism, cultural preservation, and social cohesion without excessive embellishment.
Indian Naval Ship Trikand, mission deployed for Anti-Piracy Operations, is participating in the maiden IN – EUNAVFOR Joint Naval Exercise in the Gulf of Aden commencing on Friday.
