Since at least the fall of the Berlin Wall, Western navies, and particularly the U.S. Navy, have enjoyed complete freedom of action at sea, encountering no real opposition. This has enabled them to project their power across the globe, shaping their format, organization, and logistics to this end. The global ambitions of a growing number of countries, as evidenced by naval rearmament, the proliferation of offshore platforms, and increased ranges, now pose a new challenge: the ocean is no longer the sanctuary it once was. What are the organizational, operational, and logistical implications of this? What are the consequences for the format of the forces deployed, the size of crews, and the organization and defense of the rear base?  

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 

Strategic opening at the French Institute of International Relations 

13h45 - 14h | Welcome coffee for the participants. 

14h15 - 14h30 | Opening Welcome Speech by Dr. Thomas Gomart, director of Ifri, and Vice-Admiral Alban Lapointe, Deputy Chief of the French Navy.  

14h30 - 16h | Panel 1: The revival of naval confrontation: decisive factors for victory at sea

Speakers to be confirmed. 

16h - 16h30 | Break

16h30 - 18h | Panel 2: Industrial logic and stakes in responding to the challenges of naval rearmament in Europe 

Speakers to be confirmed. 

18h30 - 19h30 | Cocktail for participants. 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 

Plenary session at the National Naval Museum in Paris. 

10h15 - 10h40 | Arrival of participants, welcome coffee. 

10h40 – 11h | Opening Welcome speech by Dr. Thomas Gomart, director of Ifri, and Air Force General  Fabien Mandon, French Chief of the Defence Staff. 

11h - 12h25 | Panel 1: Build and maintain air-sea superiority in a contested operational environment. 

Speakers:  

• Amiral Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of Staff of the French Navy
• General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord, Royal Navy
• Amiral Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy
• Amiral de squadra Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Chief of Staff of the Marina Militare
• Vice-amiral Harold Liebregs, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy

Moderation: Élie Tenenbaum, director of the Ifri Center for Security Studies. 

12h30 - 13h | Press conference (reserved for press)
 

12h30 - 14h | Standing lunch 
 

14h - 15h30 | Panel 2 : Protect critical infrastructure at sea, from space to the seabed, from the coastline to the high seas. 

Speakers: 

• Annabelle Livet, researcher specializing in energy security issues, Foundation for Strategic Research
• Captain Henk Warnar, associate Professor in War Studies, Netherlands Defense Academy 

Other speakers to be confirmed. 

Moderation: Nicolas Mazzucchi, head of the Naval Strategy & Wargaming Division at the Center for Naval Strategic Studies (CESM).
 

15h30 - 16h | Break 
 

16h - 17h30 | Panel 3: Support and sustain distant naval operations in the face of prolonged, high-intensity conflicts. 

Speakers to be confirmed.

Moderation : Héloïse Fayet, researcher at Ifri Center for Security Studies. 
 

17h30 - 18h | Conclusion by a VVIP 

18h | Closing speech by Dr.  Thomas Gomart and Admiral Nicolas Vaujour

The conference will conclude with a cocktail reception at the Naval Museum, hosted by the Chief of Naval Staff. The 2026 “Admiral Castex” prize will be presented at this event.