During this session, participants will have the opportunity to explore the increasingly strategic role of the seas as critical infrastructure for business strategy development and supply chain management. At the same time, geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, and growing competition among global powers are making the world economy increasingly fragile.

Alessio Patalano, Professor at King's College London, will guide participants through a reflection on the ongoing transformations in the middle east and the indo-pacific region, as well as the implications of maritime insecurity. He will be joined by Mario Solimbergo, Vice President Group Supply Chain at Fincantieri, who will share how a leading industrial player is addressing these evolving scenarios from both an operational and strategic perspective.

In particular, their insights will explore:

• the main areas of maritime geopolitical tension and their impact on the stability of global trade, supply chains, and information flows
• the growing role of maritime and digital connectivity in reshaping geopolitical balances and competition among states
• the effects of international conflicts and great-power policies on the security of trade routes and business continuity
• the strategic implications related to the protection of critical subsea infrastructure and risk management in highly unstable environments.