In recent years, we have witnessed an increasing presence of the Italian Navy outside the Mediterranean. On one hand, there are international missions such as those against piracy, and on the other hand, there is participation in exercises that are far from home waters. Additionally, there is a new policy of “showing the flag” even in distant ports.
Therefore, it is interesting to provide an overview of the positions of Italian ships engaged outside the Mediterranean, from Canada to Thailand, passing through Egypt, the Persian Gulf, and the North Sea:
- Frigate Virginio Fasan (F591) in the Atlantic Ocean, docked in Halifax, Canada (exercise)
- Frigate Carlo Margottini (F592) in the North Sea (FORMIDABLE SHIELD 2023 exercise). The ship will then move to the Baltic Sea to participate in exercise BALTOPS 23.
- Destroyer Caio Duilio (D554) crossed the Kiel Canal on Thursday and she has arriveed today in Poland and also participate in BALTOPS 23.
- LHD San Marco (L9893) is currently in Plymouth. Its destination is also the Baltic Sea for exercise BALTOPS 23.
- Frigate Luigi Rizzo (F595) in the Persian Gulf as part of the EMASOH mission.
- Patrol boat Comandante Borsini (P491) in the Gulf of Guinea (GABINIA mission): https://www.marina.difesa.it/cosa-facciamo/per-la-difesa-sicurezza/operazioni-in-corso/Pagine/unita_operazione_gabinia.aspx
- Patrol boats Esploratore (P405), Sentinella (P406), and Vedetta (P407) in the Red Sea (Multinational Force and Observers Sinai mission).
- Multi-Purpose Offshore Patrol Vessel Francesco Morosini (P431) in the Indian Ocean (departed yesterday from Sattahip, Thailand)