DELEGATION OF THE ITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS VISITS OPERATION IRINI’S HEADQUARTERS IN ROME
Rome, 8 August 2025 – Rear Admiral Valentino RINALDI, Operation Commander of EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI, had the honor of welcoming a delegation from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Rome. The delegation was led by Minister Plenipotentiary Samuela ISOPI, Head of CFSP/CSDP Department.
Upon arrival, Minister ISOPI expressed her sincere appreciation for the continued commitment and the significant results achieved under IRINI’s mandate.
Rear Admiral RINALDI provided the visiting delegation with a comprehensive briefing on the mission’s objectives, evolution, and recent developments. He outlined the Operation’s key tasks and underscored the progress made in expanding its scope, particularly in strengthening dialogue and cooperation with the Libyan authorities.
The Commander highlighted the recent enhancement of the mandate through the inclusion of the Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA) task, aimed at protecting European Union interests in the Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, he emphasized the revitalization of the Capacity Building and Training (CB&T) initiative, designed to support Libyan institutions and reinforce operational cooperation in the region. He stressed the importance of sustained backing from EU Member States to further develop these initiatives.
The visit offered a valuable opportunity to showcase the Operation’s achievements and underline its growing strategic relevance in the Mediterranean. Operation IRINI continues to contribute decisively to maritime security in the region, in alignment with the European Union’s Maritime Security Strategy.
This enduring commitment is made possible by the strong political and diplomatic support of EU Member States, the close coordination between the OHQ in Rome and deployed naval and air assets, and the professionalism of IRINI’s multinational staff.
