Crosetto: «The Arctic must be protected». Tajani: «Without the Armed Forces, national interest cannot be protected»

The geography of security has changed. The Arctic is no longer a periphery but a strategic frontier, along which the Chinese and Russians move to protect their interests. It is a strategic area for the security of the Atlantic Alliance. This is the message that comes out of the Second National Defense Conference on Arctic Antarctica ("The country system in the international scenario and the new challenges of global competition"), which takes place on Thursday 29 October in Rome at the headquarters of the Casd, the Center for Higher Defense Studies.

Italy does not intend to play from a throw-in, but aims to move in the front row. Deterrence is also played out in polar areas. What happens in the Great North is reflected from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean", clarifies the Chief of Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano.

“The Arctic is one of the fundamental passages of future scenarios and balances of power between nations and for this reason it must be monitored, because anything that is fundamental for a possible future enemy becomes important for us”, underlines the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, who spoke at the national conference.

The progressive development of the Arctic routes could, however, create new vulnerabilities for Russia itself. Crosetto raised the possibility of the formation of new choke points, strategic maritime passages whose control could allow European and Scandinavian countries to put pressure on Moscow. “Any faucet that I can turn off in some way to try to reason with someone who doesn't want to is an extra tool,” he explained.

According to the minister, the Arctic therefore represents one of the territories in which the future balance of power between nations will be defined. Hence the need for Italy to build its own military, scientific and diplomatic presence in the region, also through cooperation with allies.

The minister recently returned on a trip to Finland, where he met his Finnish counterpart, Antti Hakkanen. During the meeting, he reported in a post on

Hence the message that the head of Defense sent to the audience: "It is essential to build a posture, express a defense and deterrence that is up to the challenges. All together our capabilities increase simultaneously. The Arctic will be a next checkpoint. If you don't care about the Arctic, the Arctic will care about you."