The Quirinale note

Supreme Defence Council: full support for Kiev, new military aid package

Many topics on the agenda, from the war in Ukraine to the situation in Gaza and the Middle East, with a specific focus on the risks of hybrid warfare

by Rome Editorial Staff

17 November 2025

IL PRESIDENTE MATTARELLA ALLA RIUNIONE DEL CONSIGLIO SUPREMO DI DIFESA IL PRESIDENTE MATTARELLA ALLA RIUNIONE DEL CONSIGLIO SUPREMO DI DIFESA

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Drone use pushes EU to adapt to new scenarios
Russia's hybrid threats to democratic processes
Keep vigilant against cyber attacks
Italy participates in EU and international initiatives on Gaza
Peace only with recognition and realisation two states
Unacceptable Israeli attacks on Unifil contingent

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The meeting of the Supreme Defence Council chaired by Head of State Sergio Mattarella lasted three hours and was attended by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. Many topics were on the agenda, from the war in Ukraine to the situation in Gaza and the Middle East, with a specific focus on the risks of hybrid warfare. The Council, as stated in a Quirinal communiqué at the end of the meeting, 'confirmed Italy's full support for Ukraine in the defence of its freedom. The twelfth decree of military aid is to be seen in this sense. Fundamental remains the participation in the European Union and NATO initiatives to support Kiev and the work for the future reconstruction of the country'.

Drone use pushes EU to adapt to new scenarios

The conflict in Ukraine 'has shown a transformation in the conduct of military actions especially with regard to the use of drones, which Russia is also using by violating the airspace of NATO and EU countries. While these actions have confirmed the Atlantic Alliance's readiness, they also highlight the need for Europe to adapt capabilities to new scenarios through the definition of innovation projects such as those contained in the White Paper for Defence 2030'

Russia's hybrid threats to democratic processes

Not only that. The Council also addressed the issue of the "hybrid threat from Russia and other hostile foreign actors as a complex challenge to the security of Europe and Italy as well as to the integrity of democratic processes". And it did so by highlighting "the serious risks of an ever-increasing threat, based on the pervasiveness and spread of offensive activities based on the speed, volume and ubiquity of digital technology, as well as the malicious use of Artificial Intelligence"

Keep high vigilance against cyber attacks

There was also agreement on the need, also emphasised in the European and Atlantic Alliance spheres, 'to maintain a high level of vigilance in the protection of critical national infrastructure, in defence against cyber attacks and in the cognitive dimension'. "In addition to the traditionally known dimensions," reads the note circulated at the end of the meeting, "today we are also adding the space domain and the underwater dimension, two areas whose importance is growing exponentially. The combination of these threats represents a challenge to which we must react with necessary timeliness and capacity, also through the definition of new instruments'

Italy participates in EU and international initiatives on Gaza

There is not only Ukraine. "Italy is present in humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and will also play its part in training Palestinian police forces, and in participating in the initiatives of the European Union and the international community"

Peace only with recognition and realisation two states

The Council also "reiterates that lasting peace in the region is only possible through the recognition and realisation of the 'two peoples two states' solution". This is underlined in the Quirinal communiqué at the end of the meeting of the Supreme Defence Council (SDC)

Unacceptable Israeli attacks on Unifil contingent

And after having "examined the situation in South Lebanon, where the security framework continues to be fragile, with persistent violations of resolution no. 1701 of 2006", the Council denounced - as the final communiqué also states - "the repetition of unacceptable Israeli attacks on the UNIFIL contingent, currently led by Italy". "Even in relation to the UN Security Council's decisions to end the UNIFIL mission, it remains unavoidable to guarantee the security of the Blue Line, favouring the increase in the Lebanese Armed Forces' capabilities"