Open Sea 2025: Navy leads multinational operations in the Mediterranean

From 26 March to 18 April 2025 takes place Open Sea 2025the most important training exercise of the Naval Squadron and the entire Navy. The event, which this year will be held in the spring edition only, involves over 6,000 military personnel of 8 NATO allied countries, with the participation of more than 120 vehicles between naval units, submarines, aircraft, helicopters and unmanned vehicles, as well as observers from 21 foreign navies.

The activities are developed in aarea of more than 600,000 km²including national seas, international waters and strategic Italian coastlines such as the Lazio, Sardinia, Sicily, extending to the island of Crete and the Balearic Islands. The Central Mediterranean is therefore once again the focus of aeronaval operations, confirming the geopolitical importance of this quadrant.

Un’esercitazione congiunta e multidominio

The 'Open Sea 2025' is attended by a large component Italian interforce, composed of units of the Navy , departments of the Italian Army, arrangements of theAir Forceas well as operators of Carabinieriof the Guardia di Finanza and the Harbour Master's Office. L’esercitazione coinvolge anche land manoeuvring unitsboth embarked and deployed on the ground, operating in a realistic and complex scenario simulating all forms of threats in naval, underwater, airborne and land-based environments.

During the event there will also be specialised activities such as theITA MINEXthe main Italian exercise dedicated to the war of mineswhich will also see the participation of NATO standing force minesweepers.

For the first time, it will also an Advanced Medical Post activated in the port of Civitavecchiaincreasing the logistical and sanitary component of operations, while a naval force under the EUROMARFOR flag (the European Maritime Force composed of Italy, France, Spain and Portugal) will be deployed to help manage the forces present and the complexity of the operational scenario.

Planning: multinational coordination and operational efficiency

The preparation of Mare Aperto 2025 is the result of careful planning that began months earlier and materialised in the recent Initial Planning Conference (IPC)held at the Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Squadron in Santa Rosa. The meeting was attended by over 100 representatives of the nations involvedboth in presence and by videoconference. The event made it possible to refine the training scenario, define the exercise areas and optimise coordination between the actors involved.

L'Rear Admiral Aurelio De CarolisCommander-in-Chief of the Naval Squadron, emphasised:

“Mare Aperto rappresenta un momento cardine di ogni anno addestrativo, che offre agli equipaggi l’opportunità di crescere e confrontarsi realisticamente all’interno di uno scenario estremamente aderente alle sfide del mondo odierno.”

The operational debut of Nave Trieste

La amphibious component of the exercise is complemented by the simultaneous participation of the three units of the LPD line: Nave San Marco, Nave San Giorgio e Nave San Giusto. The units transport wards of the San Marco Marine Brigade and the Lagunari Regiment 'Serenissimacommitted to the landing operations in Sardiniatogether with logistical and operational support.

Towards an increasingly modern and interoperable Navy

The presence of the entire LPD line in the exercise confirms the high level of technical and maintenance efficiency achieved by the Navy and its national industry. The induction of Ship Trieste represents only the beginning of a ambitious modernisation programme of the amphibious component, which includes the arrival of the new LCM (landing craft) and, in the future, of the new LPD-Xwith greater load capacity and operational versatility.

A central role for Italy in the Mediterranean

'Open Sea 2025' demonstrates the Italy's central role in Mediterranean securityboth as an operational guide within NATO and as a reference point for multilateral cooperation such as EUROMARFOR. Italy confirms its ability to project power, coordinate allies and deal with high complexity scenariosstrengthening its strategic positioning in international maritime defence.

Source: https://www.marina.difesa.it/media-cultura/Notiziario-online/Pagine/20250326-mare-aperto-2025.aspx