The Supreme Defense Council meeting chaired by the Head of State, Sergio Mattarella, attended by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosettolasted about three hours. There are many topics on the agenda: from the war in Ukraine, to the situation in Gaza and the Middle East, with a particular focus on the risks of conflict. hybrid warfare. The board, as stated in Quirinale’s press release at the end of the meeting, has “affirmed Italy’s full support for Ukraine in defending its freedom. In this sense twelfth military aid decree. Participation in EU and NATO initiatives to support Kiev and the country’s future reconstruction efforts remains fundamental“.
The conflict in Ukraine has indeed demonstrated “there is a transformation in the implementation of military actions, especially regarding the use of drones which Russia also uses to violate the airspace of NATO countries and the European Union.“. If on the one hand this action confirms the readiness of the Atlantic Alliance, on the other”they also highlight the need for Europe to adapt capabilities to new scenarios through the definition of innovation projects as contained in Defense White Paper 2030“. Not only that. CSD also discusses in depth the problem “hybrid threat coming from Russia and hostile foreign countries, as a complex challenge for European and Italian security as well as for Italyintegrity of the democratic process“. And he did so by highlighting the serious risks of “an ever-increasing threat, based on the widespread and pervasiveness of offensive activity based on the speed, volume and ubiquity of digital technology, as well as the malicious use of Artificial Intelligence“.
In addition, there is a common need, also underlined in Europe and the Atlantic Alliance, to maintain “high vigilance towards the protection of national critical infrastructure, defense against cyber attacks, and cognitive dimensions“. Notes from the Presidency of the Republic issued at the end of the meeting of the Supreme Defense Council added that, in the traditionally known dimensions, at this very moment”the space domain and the underwater dimension, two fields whose importance is increasing exponentially. The combination of these threats represents a challenge that needs to be responded to with the necessary timeliness and capability, as well as in a comprehensive manner new tool definition“. Of course, not only Ukraine: “Italy is present in humanitarian aid in Gaza Strip and will also do its part in the training of Palestinian Police forces, and participate in initiatives of the European Union and the international community“.
From this point of view, the Board finally reaffirmed “that lasting peace in the region is only possible through recognition and realization two nation, two state solution“.
