Driving the news. Since last week, Italian intelligence has warned the government of a serious threat targeting the U.S. air base at Aviano. The Prefecture of Pordenone confirmed the alert and said immediate countermeasures were activated to “ensure maximum safety.”
Under investigation. A woman, identified by local police, was caught filming and photographing the area, allegedly “to plan fires” about 10 km from the base.
- According to information first reported by Corriere della Sera, investigators believe Russian handlers were behind the operation.
- Local firefighters said no recent fires or suspicious activity had been recorded.
The security response. So far, Italy has reinforced protection measures, particularly at night, deploying:
- special police units
- rapid-response teams
- Carabinieri support squads
While surveillance drones have also increased, inside the base, the alert remains at “Bravo plus” level.
Between the lines. Investigators are also considering the potential involvement of No Base, an Italian protest movement against new military facilities, though it has never acted against Aviano.
- European intelligence sources suggest Russia may have facilitated infiltrations into such groups to radicalise critical voices and fuel destabilisation.
- Aviano has faced threats before: in 1999, the Nuclei territoriali antimperialisti claimed responsibility for torching the car of an American woman. Two Italians were definitively convicted in 2007.
Why it matters. The heightened security at Aviano coincides with the Alaska Summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, and the upcoming Washington meeting between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European leaders — including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
- While Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on militarily, the diplomatic track could see new momentum toward a potential peace process.
(Photo: Instagram, Aviano Ari Base)
