PARIS – Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) James Honea visited Italy and France ahead of the Paris Naval Conference from January 22-25.
The international trip began in Naples, Italy, where the CNO and MCPON visited with the U.S. Naval Commander in Europe/Africa, met with leaders, held an all-hands-on-all call, and worked to maintain Allied and Partner It recognized the daily achievements of sailors and civilians. Security related.
“First of all, I would like to thank you for all you do, and please extend my gratitude to your families for all you do to support the Navy,” Franchetti said. “I am extremely proud of our Navy team. This incredible team of active duty and reserve Sailors and civilians has spent the past year supporting Ukraine, strengthening interoperability in NATO, and We have made a difference in our collective efforts through support for our nation’s security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East.”
While in Naples, MCPON also spoke with Sailors in the Petty Officer Leadership Development Class.
“We need every Sailor to become a stronger, smarter and more valuable warfighter,” Honea said. “I want Sailors to continue to develop their technical skills and pursue advanced learning that will make them better personnel and leaders who contribute to trusted combat teams.”
The CNO and MCPON then traveled to Naval Air Station Sigonella (NAS) in Italy to speak with representatives from the UK, Canada, Norway and Germany during the first P-8A Joint Exploration and Discussion Initiative (JEDI) symposium. . The symposium will use the P-8A to foster constructive discussions among partner nations, increase tactical awareness, share lessons learned, discuss initiatives, and promote interoperability among allies. Masu.
“This is a great forum that will allow us to work with allies and partners to assess our progress and refine our shared vision for an increasingly lethal, agile, and interchangeable joint force.” said Franchetti.
While at NAS Sigonella, the CNO and MCPON met with leaders, heard from sailors, and had a collective call to share the CNO’s priorities.
“I’ve thought a lot about what our Navy team needs for the future, and I believe it’s a focus on the fight, the warfighter, and the foundation that supports them,” Franchetti said. “We must provide decisive combat power, strengthen our naval teams, build confidence, align resources, and maintain readiness.”
MCPON echoed Franchetti’s sentiment of ensuring each Sailor does his or her part to apply a warfighting lens to everything he or she does.
The next stop on the trip was France, where the CNO met with his French counterpart, French Admiral Nicolas Vaugours, ahead of the Paris Naval Conference. During the meeting, the two naval leaders discussed current operations, CNO priorities, future deployment opportunities, and improving interoperability between the navies.
The CNO then met with Admiral Enrico Credendino, Commander of the Italian Navy, to discuss future integration opportunities between the U.S. and Italian navies, the upcoming deployment of the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550), and interoperability. We discussed ways to promote this. Achieve compound lethality.
Ahead of the Paris Naval Conference, the CNO conducted a tabletop exercise with Vojours, Crendino, and British First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ben Kee, to discuss opportunities for better cooperation. They discussed expanding partnerships with other like-minded maritime forces and synchronizing operations and activities in their respective future carrier strike group deployments.
The Paris Naval Conference, co-hosted by the French Navy and the French Institute of International Relations, was themed “The Evolving Role of Carrier Strike Groups” and was attended by CNO, Vaugours, Key, Credendino, and Flag Commander Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendarkar. did. Commander, Eastern Naval Forces, Indian Navy.
“Our carrier strike groups, including aircraft carriers, carrier air wings, and associated destroyer squadrons, have projected power, maintained sea superiority, strengthened deterrence, and upheld our enduring commitment around the world. ” Franchetti said. “The Carrier Strike Group is our nation’s Navy’s most capable, adaptable, and flexible platform, with the ability to transfer combat power more than 5,000 miles away in less than a week and be mission-ready. provides a wide range of options for our nation’s leaders.” ”
The CNO participated in a panel discussion titled “Future Challenges and Prospects for the Navy” with his counterparts, emphasizing the value of jointly planning, exercising, and operating to increase interoperability between navies. She further noted how a strong network of allies and partners around the world facilitates the maintenance of a rules-based international order.
“Our Navy is at the forefront of strategic competition, and decisive, combat-reliable naval forces like carrier strike groups are essential to maintaining security and the rules-based international order. ” Franchetti said. “I think it would be really good for us to be able to work together more to bring and integrate different navies and different aircraft carriers into regular operations and exercises, and I know that everyone here is working hard on that. I know that, and I look forward to continuing to do more in the future.” “
She also highlighted the role of technology in rethinking potential conflicts at sea, including advances in unmanned systems, artificial intelligence and additive manufacturing, including at sea, above water and underground. She specifically emphasized that the U.S. Navy’s development of the MQ-25 Stingray is essential to extending the range and lethality of carrier strike groups.
After the panel discussion, the CNO met with Pendarkar to discuss enhanced naval cooperation, current Red Sea operations, upcoming exercises, and future engagement opportunities.
CNO, Vaujour and Key then participated in a tripartite meeting where the leaders discussed maritime security, deterrence, interoperability and technological innovation.
“The rule of law is under threat,” Franchetti said. “Everywhere we look, it is under challenge, so we stand strong with like-minded countries working together to uphold the rule of law, and we stand strong with like-minded countries who work together to uphold the rule of law, saying that this kind of behavior cannot be tolerated and cannot be won.” We have to say we can’t, we have to do it.” That too. ”
Finally, CNO, Vojour, Key, and Pendarkar held a press conference in which naval leaders talked about working with like-minded nations through enhanced intelligence sharing, regional security cooperation, defense trade, and cooperation in new areas. focused on strengthening engagement.
“I could not be more proud of our Navy, which operates in partnership with our allies and partners around the world to keep the peace and provide options for our nation’s decision-makers,” Franchetti said. No,” he said. “I appreciate the opportunity to be here and speak to you all to talk about IFRI and the Carrier Strike Group, lessons learned, and the common experiences and challenges we all face.”
This was CNO and MCPON’s second overseas trip.