Supreme Defence Council

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The Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, presented the non-paper "Countering Hybrid Warfare: An Active Strategy."

The Supreme Defence Council met today at the Quirinale Palace, chaired by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. The meeting was attended by: the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani; the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi; the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto; Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti; Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso; Chief of Defence Staff General Luciano Portolano.

Also present were the Undersecretary of State to the Prime Minister, Alfredo Mantovano; the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Ugo Zampetti; the Adviser to the President of the Republic for Supreme Defence Council Affairs and Secretary of the Council, Francesco Saverio Garofani.
The conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of easing. The Council notes with concern Russia's determination to pursue its territorial annexation objectives at any cost. Kyiv remains the target of continuous bombing of critical infrastructure and civilians, with severe energy disruptions and numerous casualties; the price paid by the population is increasingly heavy and unfair.

The Council confirmed Italy's full support for Ukraine in defending its freedom. The twelfth military aid decree fits into this context. Participation in European Union and NATO initiatives to support Kiev and work for the future reconstruction of the country remains fundamental.
The conflict has shown a transformation in the conduct of military actions, especially with regard to the use of drones, which Russia also uses in violation of the airspace of NATO and European Union countries. While these actions have confirmed the readiness of the Atlantic Alliance, they also highlight the need for Europe to adapt its capabilities to new scenarios by defining innovation projects such as those contained in the 2030 Defence White Paper.

On the Middle East front, the Council welcomes the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
The continuing violence, which is causing a high number of civilian casualties, is a cause for great concern.
It must be reiterated that the feelings aroused by the events in Gaza must not give rise to the despicable phenomenon of anti-Semitism, which sometimes appears to be resurfacing today.
The Council stresses that lasting peace requires a regional and multilateral approach, capable of balancing local powers and international commitment, and must necessarily ensure the disarmament of Hamas. It is essential to implement the Sharm el-Sheikh peace plan, maintaining respect for the ceasefire on both sides, with the ultimate goal of ending the Israeli military occupation of the Gaza Strip and beginning its reconstruction.
In this sense, the Palestinian National Authority is a key interlocutor for Italy and the international community.
Italy is involved in humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and will also play its part in training the Palestinian police forces and participating in the initiatives of the European Union and the international community.

The Council reiterates that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved through the recognition and implementation of the ‘two peoples, two States’ solution.
The Council examined the situation in southern Lebanon, where the security situation remains fragile, with continuing violations of Resolution 1701 of 2006 and repeated unacceptable attacks by Israel 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 essential to guarantee the security of the Blue Line by promoting the enhancement of the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The critical situation in Libya and the Sahel was also addressed. This is a crucial area for the security of the European continent.
The Council expresses grave concern about the continuing civil war in Sudan, which is causing a very serious humanitarian crisis.
Italy remains committed to the stabilisation of the Balkans, where some strong bilateral tensions are emerging.
The Council considers that the potential threats posed by hostile presences in the Mediterranean also warrant careful consideration by NATO.
The Council 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.

The Council highlighted the serious risks of a continuously increasing threat, based on the pervasiveness and spread of offensive activities founded on the speed, volume and ubiquity of digital technology, as well as the malicious use of Artificial Intelligence.
The Council expressed concern about the manipulation of the cognitive space through disinformation campaigns, interference in democratic processes, the construction of polarising narratives and the exploitation of digital platforms to weaken trust in institutions and undermine social cohesion. This is accompanied by cyber operations that may target critical infrastructure, healthcare networks, financial systems and logistics platforms, with the aim of causing disruptions, delays, friction and systemic mistrust.

The Council agreed on the need, also emphasised at European and Atlantic Alliance level, to maintain a high level of vigilance in protecting critical national infrastructure, in defending against cyber attacks and in the cognitive dimension.
In addition to the traditionally known dimensions, there are now also the space domain and the underwater dimension, two areas whose importance is growing exponentially.

Taken together, these threats represent a challenge that must be addressed with the necessary speed and capability, including through the development of new tools.
At the end of its proceedings, the Council expressed its deep sympathy and gratitude to all the military personnel involved in various operations in Italy and abroad and, in particular, to the Italian military personnel involved in the UNIFIL mission in southern Lebanon and in those on the eastern flank of the Atlantic Alliance, particularly critical areas, for the exemplary professionalism shown in the performance of their duties.