Italy projects strategy from Mediterranean to Arctic security

The Italian government has presented the national Arctic policy document “La politica artica italiana. L’Italia e l’Artico: i valori della cooperazione in una regione in rapida trasformazione” on 16 January 2026.

• Main announcement: Italy has defined a clear Arctic strategy through the new policy document and institutional measures, including the creation of a Comitato Scientifico per l’Artico, a Tavolo Artico (bringing together ministries, companies and research bodies), and the establishment by the State Major of Defence of a Comitato di indirizzo interforze sull’Artico, Subartico e Antartide to coordinate Army, Navy and Air Force activities; Italy will pursue diplomacy scientifica, stability protection and technological development rather than an autonomous military presence.
• Background and details: The strategy builds on Italy’s scientific infrastructure (research station “Dirigibile Italia” in Ny-Ålesund and the THAAO observatory in Greenland), the national coordinating Programma di Ricerche in Artico (PRA) with CNR, ENEA, INGV and OGS, international cooperation (a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding with Iceland on geothermal/Enel Green Power know-how), contributions to underwater infrastructure protection (subsea fiber-optic cables) and space-based monitoring (Cosmo-SkyMed, e-Geos/Telespazio), and Italy’s hosting of the Arctic Circle Forum – Polar Dialogue in Rome in 2026.