THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE ITALIAN NAVY TO THE SECURITY OF THE ENLARGED MEDITERRANEAN

For a country like Italy, at the centre of the mare nostrum and with important political and economic interests in the region, the security and stability of the Mediterranean basin, as well as of the region itself, are of primary importance. For this reason, the Ministry of Defence has published the “Strategia di sicurezza e difesa per il Mediterraneo”. The document, issued in May 2022, designates the Enlarged Mediterranean as the area of primary strategic interest – it extends well beyond the Mediterranean Sea, from the northern continental seas to the Gulf of Guinea and the Persian Gulf. Planning must consider two dimensions: one cooperative, based on cooperation with the countries in the region; the other operational, developing those capabilities that enable an adequate level of maritime awareness. This paper wants to analyse the operative and cooperative dimensions of the Italian Navy, underlining strengths and weaknesses.