Italy seeks to boost military numbers to 170,000

Chief of the Defense Staff of Italy, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone (Getty Images)

Italian armed forces declare it is necessary to increase the army’s numbers, specifically by creating a relatively small reserve corps, according to Chief of the Defense Staff of Italy, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.

The strength of the Italian army was supposed to be reduced to 150,000 in 2024. It was indicated in the 2012 law that by 2024, the total personnel of the Italian Armed Forces must be reduced from 190,000 at that time to 150,000 (89,400 in the army, 26,800 in the navy, and 33,800 in the air force).

However, in 2022, the Italian authorities found that such a reduction was unattainable. Therefore, there was a decision to reduce the army to 160,000 personnel.

However, according to Dragone, this number is still insufficient.

“We have an absolutely inadequate number: 150,000 is unfeasible, 160,000, the number that was approved for us, is still too few, and with 170,000, we are on the brink of survival. There are exhausting changes in our army. Times have changed, threats have changed, and our obligations are becoming increasingly extensive. We want to have a European defense, and this will require a lot of effort. I have applied for more personnel. I will continue to ask for more people until I am kicked out,” he said.

At the same time, the Minister of Defense of Italy, Guido Crosetto, believes that 10,000 reservists can increase the army’s numbers. According to him, this will help in case of an attack or the need to defend by supporting the regular armed forces.

Italy’s stance on the war in Ukraine

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Italy has provided Ukraine with seven packages of military aid. Rome has also provided Ukraine with financial and humanitarian assistance and supported EU sanctions.

At the same time, the Minister of Defense of Italy, Guido Crosetto, made several statements on the supposed possibility of peaceful negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. At the end of December 2023, he claimed that it was time to find a “political solution” to the war.