Italian overseas military presence
Italy maintains military personnel and operational capabilities outside its national territory through a combination of NATO and United Nations missions, European Union operations, multinational coalitions and bilateral defence cooperation. In 2025, Italy participated in 39 international missions and operations: 27 under the framework of international organisations, including 4 United Nations, 11 NATO and 12 European Union missions, alongside 12 missions conducted on a bilateral or coalition basis.
These deployments serve different purposes, ranging from collective defence and deterrence to peacekeeping, training, maritime security and support to partner forces. Italian personnel may operate from host-nation or multinational facilities without those locations being Italian-owned or Italian-operated military bases. The distinction is therefore important when reading the Italian military presence shown on the map.
NATO and multinational deployments
As a NATO member, Italy contributes troops, command elements and specialised capabilities to Alliance-led operations across Europe and beyond. Italian forces operate within multinational chains of command and frequently serve alongside personnel from other NATO members and partner countries. In Kosovo, for example, Italy has maintained a major role in the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), providing the mission commander from October 2024 to October 2025 and subsequently the Deputy Commander, while also serving as framework nation for KFOR's Regional Command West.
Italy also contributes to NATO's wider deterrence and defence posture on the Alliance's eastern flank, including Forward Land Forces and air policing missions. In these deployments, Italian units may operate from host-nation installations or multinational bases and remain integrated into NATO command structures. The presence of Italian troops at a NATO facility therefore does not mean that the facility itself is an Italian military base.
EU and UN missions
Italy contributes personnel to European Union training missions and United Nations peacekeeping operations, where its forces operate under multinational mandates rather than as independent Italian deployments. In Somalia, Italy contributes to the European Union Training Mission Somalia (EUTM-S), where the Italian National Contingent Command supports Italian personnel and European instructors engaged in training, advising and mentoring the Somali Armed Forces. Italy has also held the command of the mission, demonstrating that its contribution can include both operational forces and senior multinational leadership.
Lebanon represents one of Italy's largest overseas military commitments. Italy contributes a substantial contingent to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), operating as the national Leonte contingent. As of August 2026, 738 Italian peacekeepers were serving within UNIFIL, making Italy one of the mission's major troop-contributing countries. Italian forces also command UNIFIL's Western Sector, while operating from multinational facilities such as the Millevoi base in Shama and Al Mansouri alongside forces from other contributing nations.
These deployments illustrate an important distinction on the map: an Italian unit may be stationed at, command or provide a significant part of a multinational mission without the facility itself becoming an Italian military base. The legal authority, command structure and ownership of the installation remain tied to the relevant UN or EU framework and the host country.
Coalition and operational deployments
Italy also participates in coalition and bilateral operations that fall outside a single NATO, EU or UN framework. In Iraq and Kuwait, Italian forces contribute to Operation Prima Parthica as part of the international coalition against Daesh. The Italian National Contingent Command Air / Task Force Air Kuwait operates from Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, using aircraft including Eurofighters and MQ-9A Predators for surveillance, reconnaissance and other coalition missions supporting security operations in Iraq. Italian forces have also operated from facilities in Iraq, including Erbil, within the wider coalition deployment.
In Libya, Italy maintains the Bilateral Assistance and Support Mission (MIASIT), working with Libyan authorities and security institutions on training, assistance and capacity-building. The mission is based around Tripoli and operates in cooperation with the Libyan authorities rather than representing an Italian sovereign military base. Italian personnel have also supported activities including humanitarian demining and the development of Libyan security capabilities.
Italy also contributes naval forces to maritime-security operations in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. Under the European Union's EUNAVFOR ASPIDES operation, Italian ships have conducted escort and maritime-security missions protecting commercial shipping through the Red Sea and wider maritime approaches. Italy has also maintained a long-standing naval contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai. Italian patrol vessels operate from Sharm el-Sheikh as part of the MFO's Coastal Patrol Unit, monitoring the maritime area around the Strait of Tiran. These examples show how Italian forces can operate from foreign or multinational facilities while remaining part of a wider international operational structure.
Foreign military facilities used by Italy
Italian forces frequently operate from military facilities that are owned and controlled by host nations or multinational organisations. In Kuwait, Italian aircraft and personnel supporting Operation Prima Parthica operate from Ali Al Salem Air Base, a Kuwaiti installation that also hosts forces from other coalition countries. Italy therefore has an operational presence at the base, but the facility is not an Italian military base.
A similar distinction applies to Italian deployments in the United Arab Emirates. Italian personnel and aircraft have used Al Minhad Air Base near Dubai as part of multinational and coalition operations. The installation is operated by the United Arab Emirates, while foreign forces use designated facilities under agreements with the host country.
The same principle applies to Italian forces operating from multinational facilities in Kosovo, Lebanon, Iraq and other theatres. A location can therefore appear on the map because Italian military personnel, aircraft or ships operate there without the site being Italian-owned or permanently controlled by Italy. The map distinguishes these operational deployments from sovereign Italian military bases.
How to read the map
An Italian overseas deployment is not the same as an Italian military base. A sovereign Italian base is owned and operated by Italy; an Italian contingent operates within a multinational mission; and a NATO or coalition facility belongs to another country or organisation, hosting Italian personnel under a specific mandate.