Italian Navy Maintains a Global Presence from the Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific

As summer 2026 begins, the Italian Navy continues to sustain a remarkable operational tempo across multiple theaters, with ships, submarines and personnel deployed from the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific.

Based on open-source information collected by Itamilradar, at least ten Italian naval units are currently operating or transiting outside national waters, supporting NATO operations, maritime security missions, multinational commitments and naval diplomacy initiatives.

Atlantic

Among the most visible deployments is the training ship ITS Amerigo Vespucci, currently heading towards North America. During the coming months, the iconic tall ship is expected to visit several ports across the United States and Canada and participate in celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Further north, the submarine ITS Romeo Romei was observed departing Brest, France, late last week. While no official details have been released, the deployment may be linked to Exercise GRAMPUS 2026, the major anti-submarine warfare exercise conducted periodically in the North Atlantic.

Off the western coast of Africa, the frigate ITS Virginio Fasan continues operations as part of NATO’s Operation Noble Shield, contributing to Allied maritime surveillance and deterrence activities.

Gulf of Guinea

Further south, the patrol vessel ITS Cigala Fulgosi remains deployed in the Gulf of Guinea under Operation Gabinia, Italy’s long-running mission aimed at supporting maritime security and countering piracy in one of the world’s most strategically important shipping regions.

Red Sea and Middle East

The Red Sea remains one of the areas where the Italian Navy maintains its largest concentration of forces.

The frigate ITS Luigi Rizzo continues to operate under the European Union’s Operation ASPIDES, which was established to protect commercial shipping against threats originating from Yemen and to ensure freedom of navigation along one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.

Meanwhile, mine countermeasure vessels ITS Crotone and ITS Rimini have recently been observed transiting towards the Red Sea region. Their final destination remains unclear (Dijbouti?), but their presence could prove valuable should regional conditions allow the reopening of maritime security initiatives in and around the Strait of Hormuz following any future diplomatic progress in the Gulf.

Italy also continues its longstanding commitment to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) mission in the Sinai Peninsula. Patrol vessels ITS Esploratore, ITS Sentinella, and ITS Vedetta are currently based in Sharm el-Sheikh as part of the Italian Navy’s 10th Coastal Naval Group. The contingent provides approximately 78 personnel and four patrol vessels in support of the international mission tasked with monitoring the Egypt-Israel peace treaty.

Indian Ocean

In the Western Indian Ocean, the frigate ITS Emilio Bianchi remains deployed under the European Union’s Operation Atalanta, contributing to maritime security, counter-piracy efforts and the protection of commercial shipping routes stretching from the Gulf of Aden towards East Africa.

Towards the Indo-Pacific

The Italian Navy’s growing focus on the Indo-Pacific is reflected by the deployment of the multipurpose combat ship ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere.

The vessel is currently proceeding eastward towards the Far East, where it is expected to participate in RIMPAC 2026, the world’s largest international naval exercise. Its presence underscores Italy’s increasing engagement with partners across the Indo-Pacific and its commitment to maintaining a visible presence in a region of growing strategic importance.

A Navy Operating on a Global Scale

From NATO operations in the Atlantic and Eastern Mediterranean to European missions in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, and onward to major multinational exercises in the Pacific, the Italian Navy continues to demonstrate an ability to sustain simultaneous deployments across multiple theaters.

While each deployment serves a different purpose—ranging from deterrence and collective defense to maritime security, diplomacy and training—they collectively highlight the increasingly global role played by Italy’s naval forces in supporting national interests and international stability.

N.B. This list is not exhaustive and is based solely on open-source information identified by Itamilradar.