General D’Addario at the Land Component Command Conference: Italy Leads NATO's Land Response

Florence, June 4, 2025 – At the “Predieri” barracks in Florence, headquarters of the “Vittorio Veneto” Division, the NATO Allied Reaction Force – Land Component Command (ARF LCC) Conference took place, bringing together the commanders of NATO land units involved in the upcoming ARF operational cycle. The meeting was promoted by Major General Massimiliano Quarto, Commander of the Multinational Division South (MND-S), and was attended by Lieutenant General Lorenzo D’Addario, formerly “Aquila 1”, a title he held as Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade “Folgore”, now head of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps - Italy (NRDC-ITA).

Multinational Coordination and Italian Leadership

The initiative represented a crucial step in the transformation of the “Vittorio Veneto” Division into Multinational Division South, which from next July 1st will lead the land component of the ARF. The conference also saw the participation of Major General Daniel Reeve, commander of the 1st UK Division, and a representative of the 3rd French Division.

Preparation and Transformation of “Vittorio Veneto”

General Quarto outlined the steps of the transformation of the “Vittorio Veneto” Division into MND-S, which will be officially integrated into the NATO structure from July 1st. The Division has already completed all partial tests of its C2 nodes and in June, with the exercise “Golden Lion 2025”, the full deployment and operational capability of the command post will be tested.

“We are the transition point between the 1st UK Division, which is passing the baton to us, and the 3rd French Division, which will take it up in 2026. This conference testifies to the collective commitment of the Alliance,” stated Quarto.

The Alpine Brigade “Julia”, which will be part of the operational component under MND-S, will be joined by a Turkish battalion and a Spanish battalion. A setup that confirms the solidity and diversity of the multinational commitment.

Allied Reaction Force: Deterrence and Readiness

The conference allowed for direct dialogue among unit commanders, just weeks before the start of the stand-by period. The ARF is the tool with which NATO ensures a rapid and credible response to sudden crises. In this context, the land component (LCC) plays a central role in terms of deterrence and force projection.

The Italian contribution is significant both quantitatively and qualitatively. Italy leads a structured, interoperable component ready to respond to conventional and hybrid threats in the Euro-Atlantic area.

Towards the Future of NATO Defense

The event fits into a strategic context marked by tensions along the eastern flank of the Alliance and the need to strengthen the joint response and command capability. The leadership of Gen. Quarto and the role of Gen. D’Addario, at the helm of the NRDC-ITA, best express Italy's ambition to be a protagonist in collective security.

With the imminent integration of the MND-S into the NATO Force Structure, Italy is preparing for an even more incisive role, confirming its reliability as a defensive pillar of the Atlantic Alliance.