Event brings together researchers, professors and students at the Naval War College
By Second Lieutenant (RM2-T) Milena
To debate the relevance of Naval Power, one of the fundamental pillars for security and the projection of power around the world, around 430 students, civilians and military personnel, academics and researchers met at the Symposium “Naval Power and Contemporary Challenges”, last Tuesday (2), at the Naval War College (EGN), in Rio de Janeiro. Promoted by the Center for Political and Strategic Studies of the Brazilian Navy (CEPE-MB), in partnership with the EGN, the meeting promoted discussions on the defense of Brazil’s maritime interests and the constant adaptability of the Naval Force in the face of evolution and new geopolitical dynamics.
One of the speakers, Professor Ian Andrew Speller, from Maynooth University (Ireland), spoke about the complexity of global interconnection, which is manifested through climate change, the energy transition and the accelerated growth in demands for the use of the sea. Among the highlights, Speller also pointed out that at the base of the entire naval strategic planning process is the defense of national interests, and that there is no single standard Navy configuration to be followed.For the president of CEPE-MB, Fleet Admiral Paulo Martino Zuccaro, there are contemporary threats that join the traditional ones.
“Some of them are not so new, such as piracy. To deal with this combination of possibilities, the navies of the present and the future must be able to act across the entire spectrum of possibilities for the use of Naval Power, from cooperation to actual armed conflict.”
Also according to Admiral (FN) Zuccaro, the importance of this meeting is justified by the need to transform society’s superficial view of what National Defense actually is. “There is still the mistaken notion that our pacifism is enough to exempt us from threats from other actors in the international system, without the need for competent, equipped and ready Armed Forces.” Other speakers also took part in the event.
Sea and War Captain (Reserve) Professor Dr. William Moreira spoke about “Strategic Thinking and Naval Power”. Rear Admiral Dino Ávila Busso, Deputy Chief of Strategy of the Navy General Staff, addressed the topic “Preparing Naval Power”. CEPE-MB, which is part of the Navy General Staff (EMA), is dedicated to research and studies on maritime affairs, defense and naval power.
The next symposium is already being prepared for October and will address the technologies used in today’s armed conflicts.
Source: Agência Marinha de Notícias