FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
With the surprise attack launched by Donald Trump in the early hours of Sunday, June 22, 2025, the level of preparedness also increases in Italy.
It was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, who announced the raising to the maximum level of attention at American military bases present on Italian territory, for fear of possible reprisals announced by Tehran.
From Aviano to Camp Enderle: Bases in the Northeast
US and NATO military bases in Italy are numerous and play a crucial strategic role for the military operations of the United States and the Atlantic Alliance in the Mediterranean, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Aviano Air Base, in Friuli Venezia Giulia, about 15 kilometers from Pordenone, is an Italian infrastructure used by the USAF (United States Air Force). About 4,000 American soldiers are stationed there, and the base has been used several times for NATO and US operations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
It houses the US Air Force's "31st Fighter Wing", equipped with F-16 fighter jets. Although under US command, the base falls under Italian sovereignty, like all NATO installations. It has played a central role in missions in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, acting as a hub for air strikes and supplies.
In the Vicenza area is Camp Ederle, the headquarters of the US ground contingent in Italy. It is home to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, a fast and highly mobile combat force, ready for deployment in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Next to Camp Ederle is the Del Din Barracks (formerly Dal Molin), a modern military complex that was put into operation in 2013, not without protests from citizens. A significant part of the logistics of the US Army in Europe is concentrated here.
Sigonella, the "aircraft carrier of the Mediterranean"
Located near Catania, Sigonella is a mixed base, under Italian command but widely used by the US Navy and Air Force. It is nicknamed the "aircraft carrier of the Mediterranean" for its central importance in US missions in North Africa, the Middle East and the Sahel.
It also operates MQ-9 Reaper drones and surveillance aircraft such as the EP-3. It is a strategic center for electronic warfare and for the Africom command, responsible for American operations on the African continent.
Sigonella was also the scene, in 1985, of a diplomatic crisis between Italy and the United States following the hijacking of the Achille Lauro by a Palestinian commando. At the time, Italian Prime Minister Bettino Craxi opposed US extradition requests, causing friction with President Ronald Reagan.
NATO base in Gaeta and those in Naples
The port of Gaeta is home to the United States Navy's Sixth Fleet, one of the main American naval forces in Europe, with responsibility for the entire Mediterranean basin. The flagship "USS Mount Whitney" is based there, equipped with advanced command and control systems.
Naples is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's operational command center in Europe and Africa. Under the command of Eucom (European Command) and Africom, the base coordinates U.S. naval operations in the region. It houses the headquarters of the Sixth Fleet and various logistics units, as well as services for military personnel and families. It is one of the longest-serving U.S. bases in Italy, active since World War II.
Also in Campania, on Lago Patria, is the "Joint Forces Command Naples", one of NATO's two strategic commands in Europe. Although multinational, the American presence is predominant. From here, operations in Kosovo, Iraq and North Africa are planned and coordinated.
Small structures
Among other installations, the Camp Darby logistics center, located between Pisa and Livorno, stands out, essential for the supply of ammunition and vehicles. In Sardinia, the Capo Teulada and Capo Frasca ranges are used for joint exercises with NATO.
In the province of Brescia, the Ghedi base, although not officially a NATO base, houses around 20 American nuclear bombs under Italian control. It therefore represents a potentially sensitive target in the event of escalation.
Finally, in Niscemi (Caltanissetta), there is a station for maritime radio transmissions of the US Navy. It is a key facility for ensuring secure communications between US naval, submarine, air and land forces.
How can bases on Italian territory be used?
As Defense Minister Guido Crosetto recently recalled, "American air bases in Italy are regulated by an agreement from the early 1950s, a very old agreement, which stipulates that they can use them only by explaining what they want to use them for and only after authorization from the Italian government. This authorization has not yet been requested, it has never been requested."
Theoretically, the Italian government's approval should also be subject to parliamentary approval in the event of direct Italian involvement or operations carried out "outside" international law. At the moment, there are no official requests from the United States. However, the alarm is growing, as another military escalation is approaching in the Middle East. /Adapted from Pamphlet by Today/
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