EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta: New Operation Commander appointed

The Council appointed Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano as Operation Commander of the European Union military operation to contribute to maritime security in the West Indian Ocean and in the Red Sea (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA), starting on 23 November 2023. He takes command from Vice Admiral José M. N

Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva Serrano is currently Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy Fleet Headquarters and has served in the Spanish Navy for 36 years. He was appointed as Force Commander of the EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta in 2020.

EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta is a maritime security operation. It contributes to the deterrence, prevention, and repression of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast, and it counters illicit trafficking at sea. It supports the transportation and delivery of humanitarian aid to Somalia by protecting vessels of the World Food Programme. Operation Atalanta also protects other vulnerable shipping, and monitors fishing activities off the coast of Somalia.

The operation is part of the EU's comprehensive approach for a peaceful, stable and democratic Somalia. As such, it has an active role to support other EU missions and programmes in the region. EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta coordinates with the EU missions EUCAP Somalia and EUTM Somalia to strengthen the Somali security and defence forces.

Today's decision was adopted by the Political and Security Committee.