Minister Crosetto took part in the NATO Defence plenary alongside Secretary General Mark Rutte, with Ukraine at the centre of the agenda in Brussels.
Italians do it better. Rutte recalled that Russian forces must be ready to manage any violations of allied airspace without escalation. Two days earlier, he had praised the composure of Italian F-35 pilots over the Baltic skies, who had calmly and professionally escorted Russian aircraft out of the area.
The meeting. Crosetto met with allied counterparts to discuss Russian drone incursions into European airspace and the emerging risks for Southern countries, recently raised by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the European Council.
- “We’re talking about all of Europe when it comes to defending against drones and rival interference,” is how Italy frames the issue.
The Italian plan. The Ministry of Defence is developing a National Plan for protecting Strategic Infrastructure. Anti-drone systems are already operational in several sensitive sites, such as Rome’s airport.
- “This is a necessary response to a threat that is no longer just conventional, but also hybrid and technological,” Crosetto said.
- The minister added: “We are vulnerable,” referring to the risk of attacks carried out by drones of uncertain origin or flying under third-country flags.
Zoom out: Von der Leyen’s European plan. Crosetto’s announcement aligns with the broader European defence initiative that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promoted.
- The initiative aims to build a European anti-missile and anti-drone shield under the NATO umbrella. The project foresees joint procurement of defence systems, space and satellite observation capabilities development, and closer coordination among EU member states.
- Brussels is acknowledging that the threat extends beyond the Eastern front to include the South, seeking to reinforce Europe’s security through shared technological responses — without undermining national sovereignty.
- European Commission officials, including Kaja Kallas, confirmed that the drone threat concerns the Eastern and Southern member states.
- Recent incidents — such as a cargo aircraft with a Russian crew and third-country registration that disrupted operations at a European airport — have heightened awareness of the growing risk.
What we’re watching: While awaiting the launch of a European-scale satellite observation plan, the Italian Ministry of Defence has meanwhile allocated €109 million to develop the Defence’s space capabilities, which aligns with national and NATO strategies.
