The event brought together a select group of academics, government officials, industry experts, think-tank organisations and senior military leaders. Together they explored the challenges and opportunities faced by the maritime community, as they apply to NATO’s deterrence and defence posture.
Representatives from MARCOM, University of Plymouth, Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Royal United Services Institute in London, University of Copenhagen, University of Kiel, The War Studies Academy Warsaw, U.S. Naval War College in Newport, as well as senior military leaders from a number of NATO countries attended the conference.
Make no mistake, I look to these discussions to inform policy. The outcomes will feed into our next Flagship Maritime Operational Commander’s Conference, to explore what more we need to do in terms of operations, policy and messaging
The theme of this year’s annual event was “Deterring Aggression, Defending NATO: Sea Power in a Europe at War.” Panel discussions, held under the Chatham House Rule, explored in depth the operational dilemmas facing the NATO maritime community of scholars, government officials and military warfighters – not just today, but in the decade ahead.
NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) welcomed nearly 40 personnel for the Sea Power Conference July 17-18 at Warren House hotel in London.
Focus areas included, but were not limited to, the protection of critical undersea infrastructure, how to maintain security within the Baltic and Black Seas, the implications of Sweden and Finland’s accession into NATO, and the role of deterrence in the aftermath of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
During his opening remarks, Commander MARCOM, Royal Navy Vice Admiral Mike Utley, emphasised the importance of these forums and their strategic implications.
“Make no mistake,” he said, “I look to these discussions to inform policy. The outcomes will feed into our next Flagship Maritime Operational Commander’s Conference, to explore what more we need to do in terms of operations, policy and messaging.”
MARCOM is the central command of all NATO maritime forces and the MARCOM commander is the primary maritime advisor to the Alliance. Like its land and air counterparts (LANDCOM and AIRCOM), MARCOM is constantly in close coordination with the Joint Force Commands (JFC) and answers directly to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).