The Italian Navy is facing significant operational challenges, prompting an urgent call for increased personnel. Currently engaged in various critical tasks such as intercepting Houthi drones in the Red Sea, monitoring internet cables with submarines, and tracking Russian vessels in the Mediterranean, the Navy is stretched thin.

The call for more personnel reflects broader debates within Italy about the need to strengthen the country’s armed forces amid looming threats of war.

According to the Navy’s latest annual report, there is a pressing need to boost its headcount to 39,000 personnel, marking a substantial 34% increase from its current roster of approximately 29,000.

Chief of Staff Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone emphasised the inadequacy of the current force size, stating that it falls significantly short of meeting operational demands.

He urged lawmakers to authorise significant increases in personnel across all branches of the military.

This plea for reinforcement finds support from Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, who acknowledges that Italy’s armed forces are below the desired level of readiness.

IItaly has been in a process of downsizing its armed forces for over a decade. However, events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2020 have forced a reassessment of military priorities.

A law enacted in 2012 aimed to reduce Italy’s armed forces from 190,000 to 150,000 personnel.

Despite ongoing efforts to downsize, the decree passed late last year added 10,000 personnel back into the target, bringing the new desired headcount to 160,000.

However, this figure still falls short of meeting the Navy’s operational requirements.

The Navy’s report highlights the strain on existing personnel, with an average of 4,000 sailors deployed daily in operations.

During peak operations, the Navy deployed a significant fleet, underscoring the need for additional manpower.

While innovative vessel designs have helped mitigate manpower requirements, concerns remain about the effectiveness of smaller crews during conflict scenarios.

Experts point out that addressing the issue of aging personnel is crucial for the effectiveness of the armed forces.

Alessandro Marrone of the Rome-based think tank IAI emphasises the importance of facilitating transitions for older servicemen and women into civilian roles.

However, Italy currently lacks the infrastructure to support such transitions effectively.

With looming threats of conflict, there is a sense of urgency to address these challenges.

Analysts warn that Russia’s ambitions in Ukraine could escalate, necessitating a robust response from European nations.

There are rising concerns about the reliability of traditional allies like the United States, particularly amid rising isolationist tendencies.

The possibility of Italy being drawn into a conflict scenario is seen as increasingly likely.

Analysts speculate about potential contributions to a multinational force aimed at countering Russian aggression, however there is recognition that Italy’s military capabilities must be bolstered to effectively fulfill such obligations.

The urgent call for increased personnel in the Italian Navy underscores broader concerns about the readiness of the country’s armed forces.

As geopolitical tensions escalate, there is a growing recognition of the need to address operational shortcomings and strengthen military capabilities to safeguard national security interests.

Main Image: By U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Rob Gaston – http://www.navy.mil; exact Source, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4265428

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