Italy ready to join coalition of European militaries
Italy said on 19 September that it would be joining a coalition of European militaries ready to react to crises near the continent’s borders, as the country’s new government rekindled ties with the EU.
The announcement follows a visit to Rome by French President Emmanuel Macron the day before for talks with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, aimed at turning the page on Italy’s previous anti-EU populist government.
‘Italy has officially communicated its readiness to join the European Intervention Initiative (EI2), providing its particular national expertise in the security sector in the Mediterranean region,’ the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain have all signed up to the French-led initiative, which was set up outside the European Union and NATO frameworks, it said.
The idea behind EI2 is to be able to rapidly mount a joint military operation, evacuate civilians, or provide aid after a disaster.
Macron was behind the idea and has called for a ‘real European army’.
Historical allies Paris and Rome showed unity this week - particularly on the hot-button issue of migration - after two years of rocky relations.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO's eastern flank]()
Eurosatory 2026: Milrem Robotics puts forward multi-layered defence concept for NATO's eastern flank
Autonomous systems developer Milrem has evolved a model for an interoperable robotised approach to the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI), showing how uncrewed systems could provide a multi-layered defence architecture in the air and on land along NATO’s eastern borders.
-
![Agile, sovereign, edge-ready: rewiring defence IT for a contested decade]()
Agile, sovereign, edge-ready: rewiring defence IT for a contested decade
Today's rapidly changing security landscape means that armed forces can no longer treat their data in the same way as in the past. What are the key challenges they face, and how can industry help them?
-
![US lawmakers prepare a historic investment in stockpile replenishment in FY2027]()
US lawmakers prepare a historic investment in stockpile replenishment in FY2027
The House Armed Services Committee recently released the Chairman’s NDAA FY2027 markup, which supports the Pentagon’s request for nearly $90 billion for long-range missiles, air defence interceptors, precision-guided munitions and industrial baseline items.
-
![Six critical capability gaps shaping the US Golden Dome implementation]()
Six critical capability gaps shaping the US Golden Dome implementation
How emerging technologies and capability priorities will shape America’s next-generation missile defence system.
