The Chief of the Defence Staff: Italia would be particularly hard hit in the event of a blockade of Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal

The escalation of the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, which has led to a significant reduction in maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, therefore continues ‘to be characterised by threats linked to the Strait of Bāb el-Mandeb’. In this regard, I would like to point out that just under 15 per cent of maritime trade and around 10 per cent of global energy traffic passes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This strait, however, is the gateway to the Suez Canal, through which approximately 40 per cent of Italia’s trade passes. No less significant are the seabed areas of the Red Sea, which host 15 of the main digital backbones of the global cable network, rendered vulnerable by the concentration imposed by these two chokepoints. Similarly, the situation in the Middle East continues to require particular attention.”

More generally, Portolano emphasised that the tensions in the Middle East ‘have required certain contingents to strengthen their operational posture and the deployment of naval and air defence assets designed to contribute to the security of NATO’s regional partners and the protection of freedom of navigation, whilst the events affecting the British bases in Cyprus and the US base at Incirlik, in southern Turkey, have confirmed, if confirmation were still needed, that the geographical distance between the location where a crisis unfolds and the areas where its effects are felt has been greatly reduced’.

The Chief of the Defence Staff also provided an update on the Strait of Hormuz. “For some time now, we have been part of and have been working within a sort of coalition of the willing, currently led by the UK and France,” he said. In this context, there is a sort of precautionary planning in place, a precautionary plan which must, however, be firmly anchored in a framework of stability in the region and a peace agreement between the parties. We are ready, but only following Parliament’s endorsement of the mission should it subsequently be authorised. This mission would involve, on the Italian side, the deployment of two minesweepers that we have pre-positioned in Djibouti, as well as an escort vessel and a logistical support vessel, which would then coordinate and cooperate with all the units and all the maritime components within this ‘coalition of the willing’”.

“Of course,” added Portolano, “from a military point of view, I have emphasised to my colleagues in the ‘coalition of the willing’ the need for close coordination between this operation and those already underway in the European Union area; I am referring to Operation Atalanta and Operation Aspides. Close cooperation with them, as well as, at national level, a strong link with the entire Italian defence contingent currently deployed in the Gulf coastal states to support those countries that have requested an increase in their air defence capabilities; it is therefore a complex and coordinated system that would ultimately form the framework of this mission.”