NRCC-11 completed its ninth week and third Field Study with a visit to the US naval base in Gricignano and the University of Naples “L’Orientale”.
On 1st May, Members travelled to Gricignano and had a chance to tour the US naval base and get acquainted with daily life on the site. In the evening, the delegation was hosted for dinner and welcomed by the Prorector of “L’Orientale”, Professor Giuseppe Cataldi, and by Dr Ferdinando Spagnuolo of the International Vesuvian Institute, in a beautiful venue in Castellammare di Stabia on the Neapolitan coast, where the guest of honour was the Italian Undersecretary of State for Defence, the Hon Gioacchino Alfano.
On 2nd May, NRCC-11 participated in an intense morning of briefings on “Geopolitics and Security in the Mediterranean Sea” at the University of Naples “L’Orientale”.
The University is a well-known institute of Middle Eastern, African and Asian studies and has been playing a remarkable role in fostering dialogue and understanding among different cultures.
The working session was opened with a brief introduction on the history of the University by Professor Cataldi. This was followed by very informative lectures on “Citizenship rights in changing societies: Egypt and Tunisia, two case studies” and on “The geopolitical challenges posed by disputes on sea borders in the Mediterranean sea”.
During the hosted refreshments on the seafront, Col Morabito expressed his great satisfaction at the successful outcome of the event.
In the afternoon, NRCC-11 joined a guided cultural tour of Naples, during which Course Members had the chance to admire and learn about some of the most famous sites in the city, such as the Castel dell’Ovo, the Umberto I Gallery and the Royal Palace.
This two-day visit was an opportunity for Course Members to benefit from authoritative insights into some of the most interesting current security challenges in the Mediterranean region.
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