Frigate ‘Reina Sofía’ to deploy in the Indian Ocean.

At 10.30 this morning, frigate ‘Reina Sofia’ left Rota Naval Base towards the Indian Ocean to integrate, for the fourth time, in Operation ‘Atalanta’ until next July.

The farewell ceremony, presided over by the Fleet Commander, Admiral Eugenio Díaz del Río, was also attended by a large group of relatives of the crew and colleagues from other units. In his speech, Admiral Díaz del Río thanked the crew for their effort and dedication during the period prior to deployment and made special mention of the importance that Operation ‘Atalanta’ has for the European Union, for Spain and particularly for the Spanish Navy.

The ship, commanded by Cdr. Juan José Belizón and with a total crew of 204, has embarked an Air Unit consisting of an AB-212 helicopter and an unmanned air vehicle ‘SCAN EAGLE’ in addition to a Marine Corps security team.

The frigate is the flagship of the operation and the General Staff of the present 43rd rotation, under command of Navy Captain Juan M. Ibáñez Martin will also embark, relieving her sister ship ‘Santa María’, deployed in the area since November of last year.

Launched in July 1989 and delivered to the Spanish Navy on October 30, 1990, the frigate is the fourth unit of six that make up the 41st Escort Squadron. Since then she has regularly participated in many missions and exercises and has also integrated into NATO’s Standing Naval Forces in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, both as EUROMARFOR and EUNAVFOR. The numerous national and multinational operations and exercises include: ‘Tapón’, ‘Linked Seas’, ‘Destined Glory’, ‘Active Endeavour’, ‘Operation Sierra-Juliet’, ‘Unitas’, ‘Mare Aperto’, ‘Loyal Midas’, ‘Galiber’ and ‘Atalanta’, visiting more than 70 foreign ports in Europe, Africa, Asia and America.

The frigate ‘Reina Sofia’ already participated in Operation ‘Atalanta’ in 2012, 2020 and 2021. It should be noted that in their last participation, and in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the crew and embarked forces had to remain on board, without stepping on land, during the five months of deployment.

The European Union developed the EU Naval Force ‘ATALANTA’ (EU NAVFOR) in December 2008 within the framework of the Common European Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and in accordance with Security Council Resolutions of the United Nations (UNSC) and International Law. Its mission is to thwart piracy and armed assaults in the Somali maritime area, the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean and to ensure the safety of international trade, maritime security, the development of economic activities and the security of regional countries in general.

The EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2441 has extended the mandate of Operation ‘Atalanta’ for a further two years until December 31 2024. The new mandate also includes some new tasks that reinforce the Operation’s role as a maritime security factor in the area and thus, as of January 2021, new activities began to be monitored, such as illegal and unreported fishing, drug trafficking, arms and charcoal smuggling, and arms trafficking.

Since 2008, Spain has participated uninterruptedly in this EUNAVFOR Operation contributing with different naval and air forces.

Vice Admiral José María Núñez Torrente, appointed Commander of Operation ‘Atalanta’ in April 2021, conducts and directs the mission from his ES-OHQ Headquarters, located in Rota Naval Base.