Greece and Italy have signed the Operational Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Underwater Centre of Excellence at the historic Navy Officers' Club “Caio Duilio" in Rome, during the meeting held from 19^th to 21^st January. The event marked a decisive step in the establishment and accreditation process of the Centre, which is based in La Spezia and is expected to receive full NATO accreditation by 2026.

The ceremony brought together delegations from numerous Allied countries—specifically Albania, France, Greece, Germany, Montenegro, Spain, the United States, and Türkiye—along with representatives from ACT, NATO's Strategic Command, confirming the growing consensus within the Alliance on the strategic importance of the underwater dimension for global security, deterrence, and technological development.

The Operational MoU was signed by the Deputy Chiefs of Staff of the Italian and Hellenic Navies, Rear Admiral Fabio Gregori and Vice Admiral Spyridon Lagaras. They emphasized that cooperation within the Underwater Centre of Excellence strengthens the partnership between the two countries, already consolidated through joint activities carried out in the Mediterranean. They also highlighted how the protection of critical underwater infrastructure is an essential element in the current context. Rear Admiral Gregori further noted that the Centre of Excellence will benefit from strong synergy with high-level institutions already present in La Spezia, including NATO CMRE, the Naval Support and Experimentation Centre (CSSN), and the National Underwater Hub (PNS).

The signing of the Operational MoU represents a key step in defining the organizational, functional, and cooperative framework of the Centre of Excellence, consolidating the work initiated with the 2024 Concept Revision Workshop and continued with the two Establishment Conferences held in 2025.

Over the two-day event, participants examined the operational and structural aspects of the Centre, addressing topics such as governance, capability development, and the organization of a seminar/workshop to be held in July in La Spezia. The event will feature contributions from NATO experts, other COEs linked to the maritime environment, and the Italian Navy. During the July event, practical demonstrations at sea will also be conducted by the National Underwater Hub (PNS) and the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE).

A shared vision also emerged regarding the need to strengthen the protection of underwater infrastructure, ensure the security of subsea communications, and enhance resilience in an increasingly complex and competitive environment.

The final day concluded with a forward-looking session that reaffirmed the common determination to transform the Centre's vision into a concrete capability fully integrated within the NATO system.

As the Framework Nation, Italy confirmed its commitment to supporting the initiative through infrastructure, expertise, and coordination.