New Strategy Center participated in the conference “Envisioning a Black Sea Maritime Strategy and Defining the role of Unmanned Systems in Modern Conflict”, organized by the Romanian Naval Forces, which took place on 20-21 November in Constanta.
Major General (Ret.), senior associate expert of the New Strategy Center participated in the panel “Policy and Planning: Crafting a Future Maritime Security Strategy”. His presentation, “Considerations for a Future Maritime Security Strategy A Personal View” focused on the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, the debates in Europe on this issue and the implications for the Black Sea region. He highlighted the complexity, volatility and lack of predictability of the security environment in the Black Sea in the context of the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, Russian aggressive actions against allied facilities and platforms, including on freedom of navigation through conventional and hybrid operations, attacks on Ukrainian port facilities, especially those in close proximity to NATO territory. The panel was moderated by Rear Admiral Liviu Coman, Commander of the Maritime Component, and the other speakers were: Rear Admiral Gianguido Manganaro, Commander Mine Countermeasures Forces, Italian Naval Forces, Commander Marian Ciobotaru, Deputy Fleet Commander, Romanian Naval Forces.

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Sorin Learschi, Senior Associate Expert, participated in the Panel “National Considerations and Requirements: Building a Comprehensive Maritime Security Strategy”, with a presentation on the importance of a maritime strategy and maintaining freedom of navigation in the context of the current security challenges in the Black Sea area. Numerous international approaches to the concepts of maritime policy and maritime strategy have influenced and led to the emergence of valuable studies and works, with significant contributions to the development of the elements that make up the Romanian maritime culture and to the cohesion of national concepts of naval policy and maritime security.

The panel was moderated by Commander Cristian Abaianiți, Commander of the 146th Demining Mining Vessels Division, and the other speakers were: Rear Admiral Iuri Covaleov, Deputy Deputy Head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, Rear Admiral Liviu Coman, Commander of the Maritime Component, CDR Decebal Ciobăniță, Deputy for Intel, 243rd Brigade, Romanian Naval Forces.
Also, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Sorin Learschi moderated the panel Protecting critical infrastructure: “The role of Unmanned Systems in maritime security”, and the speakers were: Rear Admiral (ret.) Ion Custură, Maritime Security Forum, Cdr. Espen Rasmussen, Deputy Fleet Commander, Naval Forces, Norway, Marian Sava, Brigade 243, Romanian Naval Forces.