In a formal handover ceremony held in Rome, Rear Admiral Marco Casapieri officially assumed leadership of Operation IRINI, the European Union’s naval mission tasked with enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya.
Casapieri succeeds Rear Admiral Valentino Rinaldi, who has led the mission since July 2024. During the event, Rinaldi reflected on his tenure, highlighting IRINI’s core priorities: strengthening maritime security, curbing oil trafficking, and upholding the international arms embargo.
The ceremony was attended by senior EU officials, including General Seán Clancy, Chair of the EU Military Committee, representatives from member states, a delegation from Libya’s Government of National Unity, and Jan Vycital, Head of the EU Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM).
In his remarks, Admiral Casapieri reaffirmed IRINI’s strategic role in supporting Libya’s political transition. He described the mission as a “progressive foundation” for advancing the UN-led peace process, emphasizing its continued commitment to regional stability and international law.
