Decoding the news. The Italian Air Force is now responsible for monitoring Baltic airspace as part of NATO’s deterrence posture against potential threats from Russia.
- With the start of this new rotation, Italian F-35 jets and specialised personnel have been deployed to Estonia.
- This marks Italy’s third contribution to the mission, following previous rotations in 2018 and 2021.
- This represents a concrete commitment to collective security on NATO’s eastern flank.
- It strengthens Italy’s position within the Alliance and signals an increasingly assertive strategic presence in Northern Europe.
- Military activity in the region also demonstrates NATO’s cohesion and responsiveness in defending Allied airspace.
The big picture. “The Baltic Air Policing mission is a virtuous example of operational cooperation, where each nation contributes its capabilities to strengthen the integrated air defence system,” according to Italian Defence sources.
What they’re saying. “Your presence in this region is a tangible contribution to the security of the Alliance’s borders and a clear sign of Italy’s ongoing commitment to the stability of NATO’s eastern flank,” said General Giovanni Maria Iannucci, Commander of the Joint Operations Command (COVI), during the handover ceremony.
- Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, in a message to the Italian contingent, praised the “professionalism and reliability” of the Armed Forces, and reaffirmed Italy’s dedication to “collective security on the Alliance’s eastern flank, a concrete contribution to deterrence and the defence of Euro-Atlantic borders.”
Collective and regional security. Italy’s participation in the security architecture of the wider Arctic region—of which the Baltic Sea area is a strategic extension—is steadily increasing.
- The Navy maintains a long-term operational presence. At the same time, the Army has taken part in key NATO exercises.
- Italy’s leadership role in Baltic air policing is a natural extension of this strategic trajectory.
