The Multi-Faceted Role of Maritime Training in and for NATO and Non-NATO Operations by Professor Kostas A. Lavdas* &  Dr. Marios P. Efthymiopoulos** *Professor & Department Chair, Department of Political Science, University of Crete. ** CEO & Founder, Strategy International Think Tank, Thessaloniki, Greece NMIOTC, Souda Bay, NATO June 2013  

Relevance (key words): Twitting… #Maritime Training; Future Challenges; Smart Defense; Smart Engagement; Interoperability; Countermeasures; Terrorism; Regional Security; Transatlantic Relations; Maritime Strategy; Norms; Intervention#

Maritime training & the new challenges Maritime training against symmetrical or asymmetrical threats stands out as a policy tool of vital importance in the fight against current and future emerging challenges. Challenges will have to be dealt with, by NATO members and cooperative members in cooperation, collectively. Hence, high-level training and preparation stands out as an issue of prime operational and technical importance.

Policy assessment of the topic (Reflections): Civilian & military sectors collaboration Strategic influence and policy-making. Issues of peripheral security. Policy innovation for Greece at NATO Training of capabilities and interoperability of Maritime forces Through the NMIOTC. Specialization in maritime and training affairs. Credibility for the state in a growing world of expertise

1. Navigating NATO to the very essence of maritime security 1. Navigating NATO to the very essence of maritime security. ( A guide book?) Alliance Maritime Security…. Enhanced? Not yet… 2. The operating context of NATO in Maritime Affairs Political Perspectives & Current Operational Evaluations 3. The framework of Maritime Security. Regional benefit and member-state benefit (Cost Benefit Analysis) 4. Going beyond counter-piracy operations. Military-Civilian option? (Evolution and enhancement)

Argument: The NMIOTC is a strategic component of success. It is engaged in the training theatre for future and current missions. Now Training needs to become even smarter more broad and more interoperable towards the needs of maritime security. (E.g. Cyber-war at sea or air). NATO’s maritime Security should be enhanced and supplemented to face current and new challenges, … while also contributing to the evolution of contemporary norms of collective intervention .

… at the national level It can be a national policy of success: Specialization that brings capital, Allows for specialized development and investment opportunities, and Boosts the maritime industry sector.

NMIOTC is the place to be. Tools of success: 1. Political will & clear & simplified legal framework (attractiveness, development, & interoperability). NMIOTC is the place to be. (Training, Operations, Logistical Support to Current Operations, Enhancing capabilities & Interoperability and more…) Enhancing interoperability at all levels Smarter, Faster. Proposal: Creating a Civilian Center for Maritime Security. (consultations, evaluations, lessons learned, research center) First Presented @ Conference Strategy International, Thessaloniki Security Summit 2011@

Framework for success: Training at a new tactical level: for an ‘enhanced’ and more interoperable maritime security. Example Cyber-War At Sea, or Multi sea to air and land capabilities. Robust guidelines and to the point. Precisely supplementing the current maritime strategy as adopted by NATO. Brief guide. A more comprehensive political security framework for maritime training, regulation and counter-joined operations.

National contributions: Greece –Expertise: Training A country that is, was, and will always be, a sea power. A country that offers 40% of the global movement of goods by sea (NATO Source) A country that testifies for quality & change. A country that borders by land countries that are crucial as energy hubs and raw materials providers. The financial and fiscal crisis can be a window of opportunity for the specification of foreign and security policy both including the environment sectors but also energy, while implementing network centric operations between armed forces. Attractive to International organizations, academia, and maritime companies. E.g., 28 member states of NATO plus 60 cooperative countries also, India, China and Oceanic States amongst others.

The wider context The more effective, efficient, and smooth is the operation of such missions, the greater the impact on the norms of collective intervention and on the acceptability of such intervention ‘Enhanced Specialization’ in alliance policy is the key for an effective future engagement. A true commitment to a single policy role (lead) per-member state will show that under the current fiscal crisis, this is a viable solution both financially but also politically for NATO. It links a member-state of the Alliance primarily to a single policy expertise.

We thank you for your attention! Any questions? Email us @: klavdas@alum.mit.edu marios.efthymiopoulos@strategyinternational.org