L’Italy committed to strengthening NATO’s eastern flank with a maximum authorized contingent of more than 3,000 units, approximately 1,100 land vehicles, 1 naval unit and more than 20 air assets. The general Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, Commander of the Joint Forces Summit Operational Command, he outlines the framework of Italy’s military commitment within NATO, with particular attention to the ‘eastern flank’ of the Alliance.
What did Son say
“In the land domain, the commitment in the Baltic area to strengthen an ‘advanced’ presence should be highlighted – operation enhanced Forward Presence – Forward Land Forces with a contingent of approximately 290 soldiers in support of a multinational unit of regiment level – Canadian-led battlegroup deployed to Latvia. Furthermore, the significant support of the national contingents for NATO activities in the eastern area, already started during 2022, is consolidated“, explained the general during the Senate hearing on ongoing international missions and the state of development cooperation interventions in support of peace and stabilization processes.
“In particular, as part of the enhanced Vigilance Activities – Forward Land Forces NATO – explains the Covi commander – we have assumed, since October 2022, the role of lead nation – framework nation – of the multinational Battle Group in regimental level Bulgaria, for which, in line with our allies, the elevation to the rank of Brigade is underway, with the future introduction of further specialized components of the Army and, where feasible in terms of infrastructure made available from the Host Nation, of the rotary wing component; just yesterday we formally concluded the commitment of our SAMP-T anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense system in Slovakia. We effectively continue the contribution to the BattleGroup in Hungary, with a contingent of approximately 250 soldiers included in a Hungarian-led multinational regiment-level unit”.
“In the maritime domain continues participation in the naval surveillance and data collection device in the Alliance’s area of responsibility. As regards the air domain – Figliuolo again – i Our assets participate in strengthening the alliance’s airspace surveillance system and data collection as part of activities aimed at implementing specific reassurance measures – Assurance Measures, as well as strengthening airspace surveillance and control activities – Air Policing and Air Shielding. The maximum national commitment provides up to 300 soldiers and 12 aircraft, with rotational deployments between Poland, Lithuania and Romania. We are now deployed in Poland at Malbork Airport, a few kilometers from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, with a contingent of around 220 soldiers, 4 Eurofighters and an information research aircraft. Since the beginning of the year, 8 real immediate takeoffs, so-called Alfa – Scramble, have been carried out to monitor the activities of Russian aircraft at the border of the Alliance’s airspace”. To size up our overall contribution to support Alliance activities on the eastern flank, Italy deploys a maximum authorized contingent of more than 3,000 unitsapproximately 1,100 land vehicles, 1 naval unit and more than 20 air assets”.
“The Defense for 2024 participates, or is ready to contribute, to 41 international missions and operations, divided into 36 mission sheets (22 for activities under the aegis of international organizations – 5 UN, 9 NATO, 8 EU – and 14 initiatives conducted on a bilateral basis or within specific multinational coalitions). They will be employed, on average, around 7,800 units, with a maximum authorized contingent of 12,000 units. In particular, in addition to the missions that will continue from 2023, there are 2 new missions recently approved by Parliament”, he further said on the ongoing international missions and on the state of development cooperation interventions in support of peace and stabilization.
The reference is “to Operation Levante, which through a strengthening of the presence in the Eastern Mediterranean provides for the use of a military device for humanitarian interventions in favor of the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip, as well as support for any evacuation operations of compatriots; to the European Union defensive operation “Eunavfor operation Aspides” which mainly aims to protect free navigation in the Strait of Bab El Mandeb, in the Red Sea and in the western side of the Gulf of Aden”.