Opening Address

Venice, October 17, 2012

“From traditional roles to emerging Maritime Security challenges: Naval Forces’ improved effectiveness in a demanding environment”

Authorities, Navy Chiefs, Delegation Heads, Admirals, Distinguished guests, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me start by thanking you all for attending this 9^th edition of the Venice Regional Seapower Symposium.

So what is needed is no great ambition or expectance, just another step ahead together.

I am therefore proud and glad to host, in the venue that witnessed the birth and growth of the Venetian sea-power, such a prestigious gathering of civilian and military personalities who will soon fruitfully discuss about full current maritime topics.

I still find amazing that some of the most knowledgeable Maritime leaders gather every other year in this unique city which founded its fortunes on maritime power and where, in this very building, the Italian Navy has been teaching generations of Navy Officers to cope with the responsibilities connected with senior ranks.

Likewise Venice wonderful historical buildings, underpinned by countless wooden piles dig into the lagoon bottom, maritime security needs a choral effort to be enforced, encompassing preventive measures, deterrence, intervention, comprehensive collaboration and a solid legal framework. 

I also wish to thank FINCANTIERI, the main Italian shipbuilding Company, for the seamless and concrete support to this event. Last but not least my appreciation go to all the Local Institutions and to the other Services and Agencies for their significant contribution.

Now… let me go to the core of the business.

In the previous edition of the Venice Regional Seapower Symposium, we focused on “Dialogue and Cooperation” as a valuable catalyst in enhancing Maritime Security and all related aspects, such as Situational Awareness (MSA), Security Operations (MSO) and Capacity Building (MCB), regional initiatives and partnerships. Those of you who had the chance to attend the 2010’s edition, may recall that we have achieved in this field a wide consensus on several interesting aspects which I would briefly summarize:

• First: the crucial dichotomy between the achievement of the maritime security and the need of preserving the freedom of the seas has been well highlighted, as well as…
• …second: the need to grant the appropriate instruments so that maritime forces could better safeguard freedom of navigation in the high sea.
• Last but not least, “Teamwork” emerged as key word. Navies, Coast Guards, International Organizations should be considered as a cohesive team, to manage the balance between freedom and security at sea, mainly through an effective information sharing in an inter-agency cooperation. Moreover, cooperation between shipbuilders and Navies may bring significant opportunities, in terms of cost reduction and potential complementary.

Sometimes, we think that the “comprehensive approach” to achieve Maritime Security objectives, is a new concept coined today. Looking back in our history, and in this very location, an illustrious and clear example of this concept light up in my mind: the “Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia”.

As a matter of fact, its strength, predominance and strategic influence in the Mediterranean Region stem from a perfect synergy between military, commercial and industrial strategies, with a smart comprehensive combination of deterrence, cooperation, sharing of economic interests and dialogue; a perfect integration of the entire maritime cluster as the cornerstone of its sea domain.

As an overall conclusion, 2010 Venice Regional Seapower Symposium underlined the pivotal role of the Navies in any maritime related issue, whether it is a matter of surveillance, extended intervention capability, or assisting specific actors in their growth.

The aforementioned outcomes were used as a basis to elaborate the current edition’s theme, also consistent with the last Newport International Sea-power Symposium’s theme “Security and Prosperity through Maritime Partnerships”. Needless to say, that the most recent operational experience, as the NATO intervention in Libya, played a key role in shaping this current edition’ theme. In fact the Libya campaign highlighted the capability and flexibility of naval forces in enforcing security at sea while influencing directly events ashore. The maritime contribution started many weeks before the active military campaign with Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEOs) and rescue operations at sea to save the life of refugees fleeing the combat area, and continued throughout the campaign, with naval forces operating across a full spectrum of tasks, ranging from a maritime embargo to the execution of maritime strikes, ISR and No Flight Zone Ops as well as relieving aid and goods to the population.

Besides Libya, counter piracy operations, as well, highlighted the importance of flexibility: the large number of amphibious ships currently deployed in Indian Ocean, is a clear evidence that the solution to this problem require a more comprehensive set of initiatives, which might be better delivered using flexible assets, capable to face a wider range of operations, including air, land and interagency tasks.

The environment, where we operate, is becoming more complex: the raising number of actors involved, requires a better mutual understanding, which can be achieved by recognizing our respective strengths and weaknesses, thus interacting in the most effective and efficient manner.

In this context, the ability of collating and elaborating maritime information as well as the involvement of all Administrations in this process, plays a crucial role.

The whole of these aspects gains even more relevance in the context of the Mediterranean Region, encompassing its western and eastern approaches.

 This challenging area, where different religions, cultures, economies and societies live together since centuries, has been facing in the last decade, most of the common threats; among all, terrorism, proliferation of WMD, pollution, smuggling, illegal immigration, national and international crisis.

Moreover, as a crucial crossroads for the maritime trade and the global economic flows, the Mediterranean Sea is something like a lab where maritime safety and security initiatives could be assessed and fruitfully enhanced.

The growing complexity of the maritime scenario calls for flexibility, knowledge andopen mind. We Sailors have to look ahead in time and space, beyond Afghanistan and even beyond piracy in Horn of Africa and as European sailors even beyond our maritime boundaries and our Mediterranean basin.

Navies must regain their traditional and historical roles but our commanders, officers and sailors must cope with these roles with a completely new cultural approach. A“blip” on our radar screens is not merely a “target” but rather something to be investigated, to be known or, better, to be understood as part of a more complex maritime cluster.

Not by chance, this year’s symposium will revolve around the theme that I consider central for today’s Navies: From traditional roles to emerging Maritime Security challenges: Naval Forces’ improved effectiveness in a demanding environment.

To this perspective, this ninth edition will be developed through the sharing of successful experiences and seek innovative solutions to effectively address the current and future multiple challenges affecting the maritime global common. Let me also stress that the uncomfortable and deep global financial crisis we are all facing today, must be taken into full consideration as it will surely influence our discussions andthe future decisions regarding our Navies.

For sure, this is an ambitious goal. To tackle it, we will move along a twofold path: on one side, by elaborating on lessons from the recent past, first on doctrinal and then on technical field. On the other side, we shouldn’t hurry. I deem crucial that we keep a firm confidence on what we have done so far, consolidating and improving those common factors which have proved to be working successfully.

This approach, in our view, is the winning one. That’s why we continuously commit great efforts in developing a progressive ability to operate together, moving ahead, step by step, from simple items to more complex ones. Let me say that Navies belonging to the Mediterranean region have always demonstrated great sensitivity and attention to these challenges, promoting and pushing forward valuable initiatives in the cooperation field.

I would just  recall some of the most positive ones, such as the 5+5 military dimension or the Adriatic – Ionian Initiative (ADRION) and, above all, the V-RMTC (Virtual-Regional Maritime Traffic Centre) and its trans-regional evolution, the T-RMN (Trans-Regional Maritime Network), both born right here, in the occasion of previous Symposia, now truly success enterprises.

Proving once more the effectiveness of those nets, I’m particular glad to announce that tomorrow, with a simple but significant ceremony, the access of South African Navy to the T-RMN will be formalized as well as the forthcoming access of the Argentinean one. Let me warmly thank Admiral De Moura Neto, Chief of the Brazilian Navy, for having pushed the initiative forward, extending our community to these two great Navies which operate in the most pivotal areas of the world.

South Africa in particular links 3 oceans to our regional area.

Concrete examples like these should encourage us to proceed towards even greater efforts in the field of cooperation: to this regard, I greet the Chiefs of Hellenic and Spanish Navies, Admiral Christidisand Admiral Muñoz-Delgado y Díaz del Rio, with whom I have the honour to sign two important Technical Agreement concerning Maritime Security at the end of this Symposium and Admiral Khamassi, Chief of the Tunisian Navy, for the agreement achieved in the operational field, blessed with the forthcoming signature of an important Standing Operating Procedure document.

I do expect that valuable facts and suggestions will arise from this esteemed forum: Navies’ long-held cooperation attitude has always been crucial in promoting new ideas, expanding collaboration and strengthening relations far beyond the  maritime contexts. Therefore, by drawing upon your distinctive national experiences, views and insights, we may identify further added value in terms of both capabilities and doctrines.

In particular, last experiences proved the effectiveness of consolidating achieved results in a document, aimed at setting out the proposals and suggestions stemming from this forum; I mean a Final Recommendation, a shared paper outlining current and future requirements for the maritime global common, that could provide as guidance and support to all stakeholders and committed in the management of maritime issues. A draft of such document will be circulated soon after the Symposium’s completion and, with your help, it could become an effective and practical outcome, in line with the tradition of the Venice RSS: not only a fantastic discussions’ forum  nor a “Chatam” house but a place for concrete steps ahead in supporting the present and future roles of Navies.

In concluding my opening remarks, I would like to thank my colleagues Admiral Greenert, the US Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Saldanha Lopes, Chief of the Portuguese Navy and Admiral Rogel, Chief of the French Navy, for accepting the chairmanship of the three Sessions of this Symposium and I very much look forward to the discussions, exchange of ideas and results that, I am sure, we will achieve during these working days.

Admirals, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, wishing you a productive and pleasant stay in Venice, I am glad to declare the Official Opening of the 9th Edition of the Venice Regional Seapower Symposium for the Navies of the Mediterranean and Black Sea Countries.

Thank You very much indeed.

Closing Address

Venice,  October 18, 2012

Minister, Admirals, Colleagues, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

as we are now goingto the end ofthe Symposium,let me thank all of you for your commitment and valuable contribution to very interesting and fruitful discussions on contemporarychallenges, influencing the future of our Navies.

My most sincere thanks to Minister Di Paola for being here today. Your presence sir gives us a clear understanding of the attention of our Government toward Maritime issues. An invaluable add-on for all of us. Thank you very much indeed!.

Once again, the Symposium confirmed its successful formula, in gathering such a bright and wise group, who shared meaningful ideas and thoughts, identifying clear and reliable proposals, which will be wrapped into a final recommendation we will submit soon.

This 9th Edition marked a new record, since 49 Navies and International Organizations, and 24Navy Chiefs mustered together. Moreover, I warmly thank the Libyan delegation for attending the Symposium for the very first time.

Many bilateral meetings were conducted fostering our friendship and cooperation.

As Chief of the Italian Navy, let me tell you that this edition has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in my career.

I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the Sessions Chairmen and all the speakers, for their outstanding performances. You did a terrific job. Well done!.

2012’s Symposium has been focused on a very current topic: “From traditional roles to emerging Maritime Security challenges: Naval Forces’ improved effectiveness in a demanding environment”.

 I will now try to summarize your bright insights, because all your lectures, interventions and question&answers were straight, well-focused on the issues we expected to exploit in this Symposium.

 Our debate started by analyzing insights of recent operations and how these could influence new platforms. We have then shifted to the stimulating discussion on the Interagency Domain, concluding with an interesting session dedicated to shape the future of Maritime Security, beyond the ongoing Operations.

 As it was well underlined by most of you, and I think we all convene on this,the present role of our Navies has shifted, at least in the last two decades, from being strictly a kinetic mean, to a broader a diplomatic and scalable tool of Governments, capable to project power as well as to perform a large set of tasks and influence globally. Besides, an unpredictable variety of challenges and threats required us to add many constabulary jobs to our conventional duties.

 The long and well known list, ranging from specific military threats to more global challenges, is requiring the strong involvement of everybody, military and non-military fellows, driven by a common inclusive approach to ensure an effective Maritime Security. Furthermore, this synergy of efforts is moving often our commitments far from our borders, and sometimes far from seas, exactly where the problem stands. For these reasons, the word “flexibility” and the concept “comprehensive” areat the foundation of our strategies and visions.

 Therefore we must continue our innovative path within our Navies, in terms of organization, structure, doctrines and assets, in order to accommodate new requirements and needs: a transformation hampered by a global financial crisis which is imposing heavy budget constraints on our projects.

 How do we sail in these perilous waters? Do we have to renounce to something?

We surely have to square the circle.

In a review process based on linear cuts, the traditional capabilities may be the first to be endangered. Are we sure we no longer need to perform classic war fighting duties in the future?

Well, although intervention in Libya was a low intensity campaign, lessons learned have exactly proved the contrary: the whole spectrum of traditional tasks must be kept active in our inventory as we can be called at any time to perform these duties. Besides, the core traditional capabilities are vital to accomplish our main mission: defending our sovereignty rights and the freedom of the seas as a common contribution to global welfare and economy.

Moreover, we have to take into account that regaining vanished capabilities is neither cost effective nor time coherent.

With these premises, let me try to identify a possible way ahead.

While shaping our future maritime capabilities, we should take into consideration the triple “A”, recalled by my friend Matthieu, Admiral Boorsbom, Commander of the Dutch Navy. Triple A does not represent the rating of our Navies, but rather the three critical elements on which we should base such modernization path: our Force MUST be Active (Available), Adaptive and Affordable.

Going back to classic warfare areas, I foresee many opportunities to improve this sector with a deeper cooperation. Some initiatives have been already launched and are in progress, like the NATO Smart Defence or the EU Pooling & Sharing. Training, overall, is a good playground to apply these concepts, especially when focusing on traditional tasks. To this regards, let me stress a common feeling of most of you: the importance of NATO Standing Naval Maritime Groups, which are ultimately the catalyst of interoperability and operational evolution. 

Proceeding further, a raisingnumber of Nations are currently building new platforms based on combined projects and common requirements. Flexibility, Modularity, Multipurpose and extended operational availability are the keywords.

In doing so, we don’t have to forget that the real “smart” approach must set aside personal and demagogic attitudes, aimed at sponsoring interests of few. This is not in line with the real expected outcomes of the Pooling & Sharing concept, which are cost sharing, know-how merging, improved interoperability with a positive side effect on enhancing Dialogue & Cooperation.

With the same proactive behavior, Navies should continue to keep focus on the interagency environment, ranging from military and non-military Agencies and Organization to the global maritime cluster. In this field, navies are the main providers of Maritime Security, basing our strength on a solid knowledge of such environment, the availability of flexible and adequate tools and the ability to use them properly.

Besides, in the European dimension, we all agreed that the best way to integrate our maritime surveillance efforts is to define a unique entry point for each member State, taking into considerationthe wide spectrum of different systems and organizations each member holds.

Addressing in particular to those distinguished representatives belonging to the Interagency world, let me send a reassurance message: Navies are willing to cooperate with you without stealing any of your own specific competences.

The V-RMTC & T-RMN projectsare a clear proof of this willingness. Open systems, supporting effectively the Maritime Situational Awareness, as well as excellent instruments to strengthen Dialogue and Cooperation. To this regards, let me congratulate again the last T-RMN’s newcomer, the South African Navy.

Going straight to Maritime Security, we all convene again that this taskrepresents the cornerstoneof our present and future.

We all know that this fundamental pillar bases its strength on three main concrete bricks: Security Operations, Situational Awareness and Capacity Building.

Starting with the MSOs, our predominant activities in the recent years, we have to emphasize the good level of interoperability, training and know-how achieved so far. This gives us a good margin of maneuver to adjust and reshape our efforts in accordance with the evolution of the risks.

On this field, we still observe a lack of legal frameworks which are indeed essential to achieve an effective Maritime Security. This crucial element, as underlined by some of you, drives the maritime trade and is a requirement for effective law enforcement at sea.

To this regard, let me emphasize our national contribution to this topic, stemmed from last Symposium edition, recalling the non-paper drafted by the Italian Navy, on “Policing the high seas”. This document is aimed to tickle the discussion on current legal gaps and possible solutions, seeking the most effective use of Maritime Forces within the boundaries of the international laws.

Turning now to MSA, I would like to point out how this concept must be based on a strong interagency effort. Ibelieve that an effective MSA calls for a layered structure, including a national, a regional and a trans-regional level.

I do believe that we should first apply at national level, tomerge all sources available in order to achieve a consolidated MSA. Surveillance is far beyond a simple monitoring of situations.

This requires all different national actors working side by side, including the creation of joint MSA structures, where representatives of involved Agenciesshall facilitate the achievement of a common layer of maritime knowledge, through open collaboration and continuous coordination.

Military risks, as well as smuggling, illegal activities, pollution, environmental threats are to be considered as a whole in the maritime dimension.

Turning to Capacity Building, Navies’ peculiarities and strategies well fit with this concept. The inherent flexibility of our deployable, scalable and multi-role Forces is indeed the added value to this aspect of Maritime Security. Once more, this process can be improved calling, emphasizing and sponsoring common initiatives managed by International Organizations, optimizing cost sharing, enhancing the overall effectiveness and avoiding duplications which always turn into a waste of resources.

I intentionally left as the last, the element which is the foundation of all previous discussions and considerations: our sailors.

They are the greatest strategic resource we can rely on and are the soul of our Navies. For this reason we have to nurture new generations, shaping their attitude towards open minded, flexibility, cooperation, diplomacy and leadership, to better cope with new future challenges. This last consideration is in fact our main mission.

 Summarizing what I just said, let me highlight my conclusions in few points:

• Comprehensive Approach continues to be a driving factor to achieve an effective Maritime Security as well as Maritime Safety.
• Dialogue and Cooperation confirm to be Maritime Security enablers.
• Maritime Forces, Navies and Coast Guards, are pivotal for an effective Maritime Surveillance as well as for their contribution to Maritime Capacity Building.
• Flexibility is the driving factor for the ongoing innovation process, taking into consideration that the unpredictability of the future requires our Navies to be ready to intervene and cover multiple duties, from constabulary to Traditional Roles, which, as we all concurred, maintain their full validity. 
• A solid and effective Legal Framework is a MUST for any successful security program. This means we have to lobby as much as we can to convince our respective national Authorities and the reference international bodies, that further steps in this direction need to be made.
• Shaping our people beyond education and training is a paramount investment for the future.

With due respect to these considerations, the Italian Navy is keen to achieve solid results and is fully committed to push forward some practical outcomes.

• We will sustain vigorously Dialogue & Cooperation with the aim to strengthen relationships and consolidate Confidence Building with Partners.
• We will push forward to provide the International Community with new costless and efficient tools to deepen our information sharing. To this regard, we will pursue the enlargement of V-RMTC and T-RMN Communities, as well as an active posture towards non-military Agencies for a common information environment.
• We will maintain and preserve our traditional warfare capabilities areas through the development of a pooling&sharing mechanism in the training field. This should drive to the drafting of a non-paper, aimed at identifying possible commonalities in the definition of respective training Sillabus.
• We will continue to work on the current legal shortfalls and gaps to foster the most effective and efficient employment of Maritime Forces in MSO.
• Finally we will do our best to shape our Officers and Sailors to cope with the future.

This set of proposals bring me to the conclusion, providing me with the pleasant opportunity to pass to all of you my heartfelt thanks for having been here these two days. In my opening remarks, yesterday, recalling the joke of the archers’ competition, I underline that we do not seek great ambitions or expectations from this forum but, as a tradition of the Venice Symposia, we should do another step ahead; together. That is exactly what we have done, thanks to your work again. Thank you indeed.

Now, I’m honored to invite Minister Di Paola to join the floor to officially close the 9th edition of the Venice’s Symposium.

Molte grazie a tutti voi e Arrivederci in 2014.