Italy is considering sending a second SAMP/T air defense battery to Ukraine. The decision must be made by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The battery is based in Kuwait and one was sent to Ukraine last year. Italy has been cautious about sending a second battery but Ukraine has requested it to defend against Russian missile attacks.
The Italian government stationed one battery in Slovakia and another is due to be set up in southern Italy to protect a G7 summit. The SAMP/T system entered service with the Italian Army in 2013. Italy has already sent Stinger missiles and PzH 2000 howitzers to Ukraine. The exact list of weapons sent will likely not be revealed to the public or Parliament.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Italy for sending the first SAMP/T battery to Ukraine last year. Italy aims to increase defense spending to meet NATO’s 2% goal. Italy also wants NATO to help increase security along its southern flank facing North Africa. Prime Minister Meloni visited Libya to ask Gen. Khalifa Hifter to reduce the number of Russian military personnel there. Wolfram Lacher of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs thinks it’s unlikely Hifter will comply with Meloni’s request.
