Defence, more than doubling the units of the High and Very High Readiness Forces in 2026
Three new missions are planned: in Iraq, Somalia and the Guardia di Finanza in Tunisia
by Andrea Carli
Key points
Faced with a picture that is becoming increasingly complicated, starting with the Russian threat to the east of Europe, in a context in which the US is reducing its armed forces in NATO, Italian Defence is focusing even more on high and very high readiness forces. This is what emerges from a dossier prepared by the Senate Study Service on the missions decree.
On 14 May, the Council of Ministers decided on the continuation of international missions and development cooperation initiatives and the launch of new international missions for 2026.
Overall, the dossier states, the maximum total number of personnel of the Armed Forces that the government expects to deploy in 2026 in the various theatres of operation is 11,642, although an average of 7,459 is expected.
More than doubled the units of the High and Very High Readiness Forces
To these should be added the units of the High and Very High Readiness Forces in the event of their actual deployment. This is a contingent that is not deployed in operational theatres, but remains available for immediate deployment abroad, with a special authorisation procedure, in the event of crises or situations emergency. The 2026 mission decree provides for a maximum deployment of 6,521 personnel, with 1,024 land vehicles, 5 naval vehicles and 29 air vehicles. The size of the contingent has thus more than doubled compared to 2025 (when the contingent consisted of 2,867 personnel, with 359 land vehicles, 4 naval vehicles and 15 air vehicles).
Once the identification of these forces has been authorised by Parliament, their actual deployment, when the crisis or emergency occurs, must in any case be decided by the Council of Ministers, after notifying the President of the Republic. The resolution is forwarded to the Houses of Parliament, which, within five days, by means of specific acts of policy, according to their respective regulations, authorise their use or deny their authorisation. Within ninety days of the approval of the authorisation guidelines, the Government shall report to Parliament on the continuation of the crisis or emergency situations that led to the actual deployment of the forces.
