The “SHADE MED 2022” conference confirmed that the Libyan crisis and the Russian-Ukrainian war have had a significant impact on the Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel regions.
The 11th edition of the conference was organised by the European naval operation “IRINI” and the NATO Naval Command (MARCOM), in Rome over the past two days.
It concluded that “Russia’s war against Ukraine and the political instability in Libya have a great impact in the Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel”.
The SHADE MED 2022 conference was attended by 200 guests from 31 countries, and 25 organisations. Diplomats, academics, military and industry expert representatives exchanged their views and assessments on the challenges and opportunities arising in the Mediterranean.
According to a statement published by IRINI, the conference noted that “security operations like Sea Guardian and IRINI are bastions of international legality in times of conflict, energy and climate crisis, and resurgent tensions between local and global powers.”
“The co-organisation of SHADE MED by IRINI and MARCOM is a demonstration of the importance that both the EU and NATO play in the Mediterranean. Our shared understanding of the vital importance of maritime security in the Mediterranean is critical for the European and transatlantic world”, underlined Vice Admiral Didier Piaton, Deputy Commander of NATO’s Allied Maritime Command, during his speech at the conference.
Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto, Operation Commander of IRINI concluded, “our nations in NATO and EU are preeminent actors in fighting threats to global and regional security, as in the Mediterranean sea with Operations Sea Guardian and IRINI. No matter the size or the nature, the participation of so many nations in solving these issues is a great success itself.”
SHADE MED 2023 is set to take place next autumn, when IRINI will take stock of the results and good practices undertaken this year, and the one to come.
