NIMA – ICRC Joint Seminar

[wpcdt-countdown id=”55598″]

In an age of escalating geopolitical tensions and evolving maritime security challenges, naval warfare faces intensified scrutiny under international law. The San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994) is a central document offering authoritative guidance on the lawful conduct of hostilities at sea. Yet, the maritime battlespace has changed and is changing. The rise of AI, autonomous systems, cyber warfare, precision weaponry, and hybrid threats and non-state actors has reshaped the nature of naval conflict. These developments challenge the foundation of the San Remo Manual and prompt an assessment of its relevance. As naval doctrines adapt to emerging realities, so must the legal frameworks governing Reviewing the Manual’s applicability in light of 21st-century threats is both timely and essential to ensure international maritime law remains responsive, relevant and fit for purpose in today’s complex conflict environment.