Italy and France United: The Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff is Born

Toulon, France — On board the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, moored at the Toulon naval base, the first edition of the Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff between Italy and France took place yesterday, an event marking a new chapter in bilateral cooperation between the Armed Forces of the two countries.

A High-Level Italian Delegation

Italy was represented by the Chief of Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano, accompanied by the heads of the three Armed Forces:

• Corps General Carmine Masiello (Italian Army)
• Admiral Enrico Credendino (Navy)
• Air Force General Antonio Conserva (Air Force)
  Also present were the Deputy Chief of Defense Staff, General Luigi Del Bene, and numerous officers from the French General Staff.

Objectives and Structure of the Committee

The initiative aims to strengthen strategic and operational dialogue between the General Staffs of the two countries, through a format that includes plenary sessions and bilateral meetings dedicated to topics of common interest.
The Italian-French collaboration seeks to consolidate a shared vision on European and Mediterranean security, enhancing interoperability and joint planning.

During the proceedings, military leaders discussed issues of international significance:

• Support for Ukraine and coordination of military aid;
• The situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Lebanon;
• Naval operations in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea;
• Stability in the Balkans, with reference to Kosovo and Bosnia.

Military, Space, and Industrial Capabilities

On the capability front, the delegations analyzed the sizing of military tools and new needs in terms of human resources, delving into the topics of the evolution of reserve forces and new generation recruitment models, with the aim of adapting the Armed Forces to modern operational scenarios.

One of the central points was industrial cooperation in the Defense sector, considered essential for developing synergies in all operational domains, including the space domain, with particular attention to satellite communications and dual-use systems.
The meeting reaffirmed the desire to integrate the technological and industrial capabilities of Italy and France in a European common defense perspective.

The Joint Committee of Italian-French Chiefs of Defense Staff represented a concrete step towards greater integration in the field of defense, promoting continuous dialogue between the two countries, which share responsibilities and interests in the Euro-Mediterranean area.
The initiative sends a clear signal of strategic unity, interoperability, and common vision in an increasingly complex international context.