The French Navy anti-aircraft destroyer FNS Cassard has docked at the military port of Mumbai in the first implementation of the agreement for the provision of reciprocal logistics support, which was concluded during the State visit of President Emmanuel Macron to India in March 2018 and came in effect a few weeks ago.It illustrates, in more ways than one, the continuous deepening of France and India’s partnership in the Indian Ocean, guided by the Joint Strategic Vision adopted by both countries last year, and the excellent cooperation between their navies.The Cassard-class destroyer last November successfully conducted a rescue mission when a tanker with an Indian crew was shipwrecked.During this port call from 24th to 29th January 2019, the destroyer FNS Cassard will attend the visit of an EU military delegation promoting the EU’s role in fighting piracy and in providing maritime security in the Indian Ocean through its renowned operation,: EU NAVFOR. This will be an occasion to recall the longstanding support of French forces to EU NAVFOR, also called “Atalanta”, and to the EU’s operations in general. The Cassard will provide associated support to Atalanta shortly after this port call.Operation Atalanta has been deployed since 2008 to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia, thus demonstrating the EU's contribution to international security and providing protection to the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) vessels, which deliver aid to displaced persons in Somalia. Recently, on 24-25 December 2018, the Indian Navy escorted a WFP vessel in support of Operation Atalanta. This is a clear example of the Indian Navy and the EU working together to ensure safe, free, unhindered navigation around the Horn of Africa.France has specific interests in the Indian Ocean due to its overseas territories (Reunion Island and Mayotte) which are home to over a million French citizens, and its 2.8 million square kilometres of exclusive economic zone, i.e. more than 10% of the Indian Ocean’s surface. It thus deploys significant assets in the Indian Ocean, permanent ones at its Djibouti, Abu Dhabi, Reunion Island and Mayotte military bases, or depending on requirement, as with its carrier strike group.France and India share a commonality of interests. Both countries face the same challenges with the same values: freedom of navigation, fight against maritime piracy, and are determined to foster economic cooperation as well as promote the fight against climate change. India and France are also looking to balance China through Naval cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.