Although Covid 19 has been redesigned, it is still connected, and this has not prevented IHEDN from pursuing its mission in a spirit of continuity and innovation, but also in strict compliance with the health protection measures in force. Indeed, while the participants in the IHEDN's 6th national session on "Maritime Challenges and Strategies" experienced a day of committee work via videoconferencing on 6 November, which was initially scheduled to take place at the Ecole Militaire, their work was far from virtual.
The auditors were looking forward to this day because, in addition to the pleasure of getting together, they were going to be able to take forward the work they had been asked to do at the beginning of the year on the general theme of sovereignty. In the maritime sector, this has been broken down into three areas: cognitive capabilities, economic control and the ability to intervene on the international stage, particularly in the diplomatic and military spheres. The aim is to preserve the oceans, the common property of mankind, while ensuring France's freedom of action. This was an opportunity for one of the committees to have a particularly rich exchange with one of the session's mentors, Philippe Louis-Dreyfus, with whom they explored the major issues of economic sovereignty throughout the morning.
In the early afternoon, Lieutenant General Patrick DESTREMAU, Director of the IHEDN and higher military education, addressed all the session's auditors to explain what he expected of them. He reminded them of the IHEDN's mission and the main objectives of their training, which, far beyond the simple acquisition of knowledge, was part of a long-term perspective in the service of their country. "Their work is a proactive questioning exercise that responds to a public commission. It must be developed with a forward-looking dimension. Auditors are encouraged to take the necessary distance and step outside their field of expertise to take a clear-sighted look at the world order.
At the end of the day, particularly happy and pleasantly surprised by the smooth running of this day of "remote" work, the listeners had to leave virtually, a little frustrated at not having been able to meet up for a face-to-face exchange, but with the hope of soon meeting up again in the "flesh" in the respect of barrier gestures!
