On 23 May, the Embassy of Italy in Washington DC hosted the annual Forum of the National Interagency Advisory Group (NIAG), organisation operating within the US National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO). During the symposium, this federal multi-agency body – which provides advice and guidance on matters related to the maritime sector – conducted in-depth analysis of major global maritime issues, involving world-renowned experts.

This year edition's theme, "Mass Migration in the Maritime Domain", allowed for sharing and close examination of lessons learned from naval operations, namely those recently conducted in the Mediterranean Sea.

Recognising Italy's paramount role in the conduct of operations aimed at safeguarding and promoting national maritime security while taking into account the humanitarian implications related to the migration phenomenon, the NIAG staff showed a great interest in the approach adopted by Italy – along with other allied and European nations – to address these issues.

Moreover, the acts of terrorism recently committed in Europe have shown how the international community is exposed to the threat posed by radicalisation in environments characterised by poor economic and social inclusion. In this context, and in line with the themes analysed during the Forum, it has been suggested that the terrorist appeal could be more attractive to some emotionally vulnerable migrants. Although such hypothesis cannot be excluded a priori and is occasionally taken up again by the media, in the maritime domain - notably when it comes to migration flows coming from the Libyan coasts - there is no actual evidence to confirm the existence of this threat.

The Italian Navy, represented by Rear Admiral Valter Zappellini, Naval Attaché at the Embassy of Italy in Washington DC, participated in the panel called "Illegal Migration by the Sea. Responses to a Global Challenge". The outcomes achieved during maritime and air operations - both national and within international partnerships – have highlighted the maritime domain as Italy's natural environment where our national capabilities, skills and expectations are best expressed as a whole, in accordance with our visions and values of solidarity and compassion, parallel to the safeguard of national maritime security and strategic interests.

Maritime and air operations Mare Nostrum and Mare Sicuro, as well as the EU Mission Sophia (EUNAVFORMED) were the central theme of the conference. A noteworthy presentation was delivered by the EUNAVFORMED representative, Captain (ITN) Gianfranco Vizzini, within the panel called "Europe's Response to Mass Migration in the Mediterranean Sea".  Captain Vizzini reported the results achieved in less than one year by the EU naval force deployed since June 2015 to disrupt the networks of human trafficking or smuggling. Other interesting contributions to the debate were provided by internationally renowned experts dealing with migration flows in the Caribbean region and to Australia, through the presentation of statistics, compared analysis and examination of relevant social, economic, historic and cultural aspects.

The event was closed by Rear Admiral Robert Sharp, NMIO Director and NIAG Chairman, who thanked all participants, highlighting the significance of this Forum in providing information about what has been achieved and what is still to be done in terms of maritime security and migration control.