Berlin: Maritime Capital Forum

It seemed a long time ago: the last time the Maritime Capital Forum (MHF) had issued invitations before the pandemic. Now it was time again: MPs, their staff and the participating parliamentary groups, as well as the maritime community from the navy, the Federal Ministry of Defence, armaments, industry and representatives of the press gathered on 29 March in the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the Federal Government in the Tiergarten district.

Under the patronage of the German Maritime Institute and the NATO COE CSW (Center of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters), the MHF organised a Maritime After Work Clubwhich had a powerful technical content. In "tense times in terms of security policy", a look was taken at two distant conflict zones that are nevertheless highly significant for Europe and the Western world.

The theme is "War in the Indo-Pacific region and the Arctic?" The hypothetical question was whether the known territorial disputes could lead to armed conflict and whether the lessons learnt from the war in Ukraine could help us with a strategy to prevent escalation.

The event was opened by the new commander of Operational Flotilla 1, Flotilla Admiral Sascha Rackwitzwho is also Director of the NATO Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters in Kiel, with feedback on the Munich Security Conference.

The panellists were Prof Dr Carlo MasalaUniversity of the Federal Armed Forces Munich, who also moderated the event. Experts currently have packed diaries, but the organisers still managed to secure the following speakers Dr. Sarah Kirchberger, Head of the Department of Strategic Development in Asia-Pacific at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK), and the Arctic experts Dr Michael PaulStiftung Wissenschaft und Politik - German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) Berlin.

The knowledge and depth of the presentations, views, questions and answers were magnificent. The Chatham House rule applied. The subsequent reception and networking with snacks were also the long-awaited reunion of a very familiar community.

After several events in Berlin this week, however, it was once again clear that the security policy "maritime community" naturally knows each other well and had several reunions. The lax assertion that the experts had once again confirmed each other's opinions proved to be true. A little more "outward" would be desirable. The invitation to parliamentary staff is a good step in this direction.

The event was supported by the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, the ISPK-Kiel and Metis.

The industry was supported by SAAB, Rohde&Schwarz, mtu Rolls Royce, Damen Naval and N.V.L.

Source: Photos: NATO COECSW Kiel