Visit of the Head of International Relations of the Belgian Navy, Rear Admiral Carl GILLIS to IRINI Operational Headquarters.
Today, 23rd of January, at the Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Rome, Rear Admiral Valentino RINALDI, EUNAVFOR MED IRINI Operation Commander (OPCDR), welcomed Rear Admiral Carl GILLIS, Head of International Relations of the Belgian Navy, accompanied by the Belgian Defence Attaché in Italy, Col. Dirk TAFFEREIN.
At the beginning of the visit, Admiral GILLIS had the opportunity to address a greeting to representatives of the various branches of the staff composed of personnel from the 23 contributing Member States, highlighting the importance of collaboration and mutual understanding.
During the meeting, RAdm RINALDI provided a comprehensive overview of the state of play of Operation IRINI and future developments, with particular reference to the ongoing Strategic Review process for the renewal of the operation’s mandate, and the launch of capacity building and training initiatives for maritime Libyan institutions.
As part of the visit, RAdm GILLIS viewed the Joint Operations Center (JOC), which serves as the heart of IRINI’s OHQ. Operating 24/7, the JOC is responsible for real-time Maritime Situational Awareness across the designated area of operations (AOO).
The visit provided a concrete demonstration of the work carried out by the Operation and its OHQ and was an excellent opportunity for a fruitful exchange of views and experiences, emphasizing the importance of reaffirming the collective commitment of EU Member States to support security in the Central Mediterranean.
