SHADE MED 2025 – SHARED AWARENESS AND DE-CONFLICTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
18 November 2025 | Rome, Palazzo Guidoni at “F. Baracca” military base.
The SHADE MED Conference is the central annual forum of the EUNAVFOR MED Operation IRINI and its international partners for security policy dialogue and cooperation in the Mediterranean region. For the 14th edition, on the initiative of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI and NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM), high-level representatives from politics, diplomacy, the military, academia, and international organizations (UN, EU, NATO), as well as media and the private sector gathered in Rome.
Under the theme “The Mediterranean Space: A Pillar of Global Security,” SHADE MED 2025 highlighted the significance of the Mediterranean as a hub of global security and as a strategic bridge between continents. The conference went far beyond a traditional international meeting, serving as a unique platform for in-depth exchange, evaluation of current security threats, the development of practical solutions, and the promotion of shared perspectives on peace, security, and sustainable development.
Key Themes of SHADE MED 2025 were:
- Political-military reconfigurations in the East Med: Opportunities and challenges for NATO amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the East Mediterranean;
- Trafficking, Migration and Crisis Spillover: Illicit trafficking, irregular migration, and the spillover of crises from neighbouring regions remain among the most pressing security challenges in the Mediterranean. EUNAVFOR MED IRINI and partners face the challenge of balancing deterrence, interdiction, and humanitarian considerations, while ensuring compliance with international law.
- Protecting the Mediterranean as a Strategic Economic and Energy Gateway: NATO and the EU have complementary roles in ensuring protection of strategic maritime assets, from safeguarding offshore energy platforms and submarine cables to protecting container traffic and LNG shipments.
SHADE MED 2025 aims to strengthen cooperation and foster innovative solutions. No single country can solve the complex security challenges faced by the Mediterranean alone. The conference served as a catalyst for open dialogue, practical collaboration, and strategic alignment for the benefit of citizens, regional stability, and global peace and security.
The event provided extensive media opportunities, interviews with international experts, and a variety of networking possibilities.
