Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto officially transferred command of EU Naval Force Mediterranean Operation IRINI to Rear Admiral Valentino Rinaldi. The ceremony, held at the operation’s headquarters in Rome, was attended by General Robert Brieger, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, Italian Under Secretary of State for Defense Sen. Isabella Rauti, and Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chief of the Italian Defense.
Having reached a significant milestone in its operational maturity, IRINI has established itself as a critical component of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. The mission remains the sole international actor enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya, and it continues to operate with a balanced and impartial approach. Utilizing an array of assets including ships, aircraft, submarines, drones, and satellites, IRINI maintains constant surveillance in the Central Mediterranean. Its primary objectives include monitoring air and sea communications and enhancing maritime security along Europe’s southern border, with a particular focus on the waters off Libya.
In his farewell address, Rear Admiral Turchetto highlighted IRINI’s role in supporting Libya’s stabilization and peace process, noting the continued fragility of the UN-brokered ceasefire. He expressed confidence in Rear Admiral Rinaldi, who had previously served as the Force Commander at sea in 2023, and emphasized Rinaldi’s expertise in advancing the operation’s goals.
Rear Admiral Rinaldi will now lead the operation’s efforts to combat illegal arms trafficking into Libya, disrupt oil smuggling from the country, and address migrant trafficking through the Central Mediterranean.