Senior Course 124 Field Study I – European Perspectives: Italy visit

On 2 April 2014, after returning from Paris, the Dean of the NATO Defense College, Dr Daria DANIELS SKODNIK (SVN C), Senior Course 124 (SC 124) and NATO Regional Cooperation Course 11 began two days of briefings and other activities in Rome to cap off the first Field Study of SC 124.

After a welcome address and brief overview of the structure and functions of the Centre for Strategic Defence Studies (CASD) by Vice Admiral Rinaldo VERI, President of the CASD, a series of briefings were delivered on Italy’s defence priorities and security perspectives. The first briefing was delivered by Major General Nicola GELAO, who covered the main commitments of the Italian Armed Forces in the current strategic environment. This topic was examined under the following headings: missions and lessons learned; the Transformation process; current operations; Italy’s posture in the wider Mediterranean; the Defence Review; and capability enhancement.

The second briefing, on Italy’s Foreign Policy, was given by Counsellor Lucio DEMICHELLE, Head of Unit IV (NATO) in the Directorate General for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Focusing mainly on the geopolitical dimension, the speaker offered an overview of the main pillars of Italian foreign policy at multilateral and bilateral level, and national interests and priorities.

The final briefing of the morning programme was delivered by Mr Vincenzo DELICATO from the Ministry of the Interior, who presented the challenges and activities of the Ministry in the domain of combatting illicit transnational activities such as the trafficking of arms, drugs and human beings. He also highlighted the major challenge associated with illegal immigration and organized crime.

Following a lively Q&A period with the morning’s speakers, the session ended with a Course photo and lunch in the beautiful courtyard of the facility.

In the afternoon, the contingent was transported to the headquarters of the Banca d’Italia in the beautiful Palazzo Koch, where the participants were privileged to receive a tour and were thus able to admire the historic building’s architecture and art treasures. This was followed by a briefing on the history of the Bank, its functions and its relationship to the European Central Bank, delivered by the Direttore della Fondazione di Assistenza e Solidarietà onlus (FAS), Mr Gianluca TREQUATTRINI, and Ms SPINETTI.

Later, Rear Admiral SAPONARO, Chief of Staff for the Chief of the Italian Navy (CINCNAV), welcomed Dean DANIELS SKODNIK and SC 124 to the CINCNAV headquarters in Cassia. Captain RAPESE, Head of the Plans Division, provided a briefing concerning Fleet organization, operations, and the command and control infrastructure of the CINC. Remarks focussed on the transformational reforms that the Italian Navy has recently implemented and the range of operations in which the Italian fleet participates. The briefings were followed by a tour of the Headquarters facility, which focussed on the operations rooms that develop and manage the Recognized Maritime Picture and guide ongoing operations. The tour was completed by a VTC with the Chief of Staff for Operation MARE NOSTRUM, and some closing remarks from Admiral Filippo Maria FOFFI, CINC Italian Navy.

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