The Indo-Pacific is increasingly an area of interest for the Navy, which continues to strengthen its cooperation network with the Navies of the Region. In this context, the month of March marked two important milestones: the first edition of the Navy-to-Navy staff talks with the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), held from March 3 to 7 in Seoul, and the second edition of the Navy-to-Navy staff talks with the Indonesian Navy, held in Jakarta from 17 to 20 March. Two events that demonstrate Italy's commitment to consolidating a strategic dialogue between the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific.
The historic start of the staff talks with the ROKN Navy was an opportunity to reinvigorate the bilateral relationship. ROKN representatives expressed great interest in strengthening relations with the Navy, underlining that relations between Italy and South Korea, which have exceeded 140 years, have solid roots. Among the most remembered events, the Italian contribution during the Korean War, when our country sent a field hospital to provide assistance to wounded soldiers and civilians, a gesture that Korea still considers a sign of friendship. In recent times, bilateral relations have also been revitalized thanks to the port visit to Busan of Nave Montecuccoli during the 2024 Giro del Mondo campaign. An Italian presence in the Korean springs that had been missing for decades and that, as a testimony to the importance that the region has today for the Navy, will be repeated a year later with the visit of the Marceglia ship at the end of next April. During the talks, both Navies shared common visions on maritime security, with particular attention to the protection of trade routes, the stability of the Region and the opportunities for joint exercises and exchange of operational experiences. The meeting allowed the approval of the first bilateral armed forces cooperation plan with the South Korean Navy.
A few days later, the Navy continued its network development action in the Indo-Pacific with the second edition of the Navy-to-Navy staff talks with the Indonesian Navy, held in Jakarta from 17 to 20 March. The meeting consolidated the dialogue started in recent years and supported by a growing presence of the Navy in the Region. In 2023, the deployment of Nave Morosini represented a significant first step, followed in 2024 by the transition of the carrier strike group Italian and from the ship's journey Vespucci engaged in the Round the World Tour. Last February, Nave Marceglia took part in the multinational exercise KOMODO, organized by the Indonesian Navy, and a new stopover of the same unit in Jakarta is planned for May, confirming the continuity of the dialogue between the two Navies. Cooperation with Indonesia also extends to the sector of capacity development: the Indonesian Navy has recently started the acquisition of two Offshore multi-purpose patrol boats (PPA) through FINCANTIERI, and the Navy is providing strategic support in all phases of the process, with a familiarization and transfer program of know-how on new naval units.
The March meetings with South Korea and Indonesia are part of the Navy's strategy to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The goal is to build a solid network between the Navies of the Region and Italy, promoting dialogue between two central geographic areas for global maritime security. From protecting trade routes to fighting piracy, to countering emerging threats above and below the surface, the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific share common challenges that require a cooperative approach. Strengthening these ties, through constant dialogue and an increasingly structured operational presence, represents a step forward in building lasting relationships between the Navy and the Navies of the Indo-Pacific, contributing to global maritime security and stability.
