On 29th October NRCC Course Members travelled to Naples to attend a 2-day session of briefings from senior officials at JFC Naples and the NSD-S Hub and to discuss the challenges faced by NATO and its Partners in North Africa, the Sahel region and the Middle-East.
On the first day, NRCC-20 was welcomed by JFC Naples Chief of Staff, Lt General Portolano (ITA A) and the Director of NSD-S Hub, Brig General Angius (ITA A). In the afternoon, Course Members received briefings on JFC Naples missions and structures, as well as on ongoing operations in Iraq and in the Balkans. The day ended with an introduction to operational planning procedures.
On the second day, JFC Naples ACOS J9 Brig General Kloss introduced NRCC 20 Course members to the Military Partnership Division describing its activities. This paved the way to the round-table discussions with the NSD-D Hub officers giving both Course members and HUB analysts the opportunity to share perspectives and concerns on the drivers of instability in the Southern region.
On Wednesday, Course Members had the chance to visit the well-known University of Naples “L’Orientale”. After a comprehensive lecture given by Professor Giuseppe Cataldi on migration in the Mediterranean, focusing on humanitarian aspects, as well as issues related to international law, Course Members were invited to share their views with Professor Cataldi and his students.
The three-day Field Study provided NRCC Course Members with authoritative insights into some of the most challenging current security issues in NATO’s Southern region, while at the same time giving them the opportunity to present their national or personal perspectives on topics of interest.
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