Undersecretary Rauti at the Arctic Forum Dolomites 2025

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“The Arctic is a key region for global security. Ice melting, a consequence of the Climate Change in the High North, is opening new trade routes and unleashing the rush for rare earths, a most valuable resource. Interested actors and their diverging interests are defining the Arctic as the New Frontier, where the global geopolitical future is at stake”.

Thus Undersecretary of State for Defence Isabella Rauti -also in charge of the Arctic, Sub-Arctic and Antarctica specialist environment- in her speech at the Arctic Forum Dolomites 2025, which took place yesterday at the Gustav Mahler Culture Centre in Dobbiaco (Bolzano), in the presence of Chief of Army Staff Gen. Carmine Masiello, and Italian and foreign representatives of the academia, research and industry sectors. 

The international conference was organized by the Defence Ministry within the framework of exercise White Fox 2025, implemented in Val Pusteria (Trentino Alto Adige) conducted by the Alpine Troops with the participation of various divisions of the Italian Army as well as representatives of the Polish and Romanian Army. The exercise also aimed to test the implementation of new technologies while strengthening operational capacity in an Arctic environment.

“Italy has been an Observer at the Arctic Council since 2013, and it can work as a driver for the European Union – which did not achieve observer’s status- so that it can play a more central role in the Big Chill region.”, Rauti stated. “ Our nation aims to strengthen its presence in that area, in order to prevent being cut off from one of the main geopolitical and economic theatres of the future”.

Within this context, deterrence and defence take on a crucial role. “NATO strengthens the operational competence of Member States of the Arctic region to consolidate its posture on the Northern Flank, also by providing a contribution in terms of doctrine and training customized to the Arctic environment”.

Yesterday, the Undersecretary attended the start of ski-alpine activity Ice Challenger, and of the cross-country ski race of the Defence Paralympic Sports Team and Italy’s National Paralympic Ski Team. Subsequently, she witnessed Mountain Warfare and Cyber Electro Magnetic Activities, within the framework of Exercise White Fox 2025.