Introduction
Italy’s Arctic involvement dates back to 1432 with the Cocca Querina shipwreck in the Lofoten Islands, which introduced codfish to Venice. In 1899, the first Italian Arctic expedition led by Luigi Amedeo di Savoia, Duca degli Abruzzi, established Italy’s presence in polar exploration. This legacy continued in 1926 when Umberto Nobile, alongside Roald Amundsen, flew over the North Pole aboard the Norge airship. Today, Italy maintains a strong Arctic presence, with its scientific base Dirigibile Italia in Ny-Ålesund focused on climate change research.
Italy is also politically active, joining the Arctic Council as a permanent observer in 2013 and publishing its Arctic strategy in 2015. The launch of the “High North” program by the Italian Navy further underscores its evolving role, shifting from scientific contributions to strategic security objectives, especially as Arctic geopolitics intensify following the war in Ukraine.
Italy’s Evolving Role in the Arctic: From Early Exploration to Modern Geopolitical Engagement
Italy’s Arctic involvement has a long and storied history, beginning as early as 1432 when the Venetian ship Cocca Querina was shipwrecked in the Lofoten Islands. This event led to the introduction of codfish to Venice, setting the stage for Italy’s Arctic connections. In 1899, Luigi Amedeo di Savoia, the Duke of Abruzzi, launched Italy’s first full Arctic expedition, solidifying its early contributions to polar exploration.
In 1926, Italian engineer and aviator Umberto Nobile and Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen flew over the North Pole aboard the airship Norge. Their historic achievement made the Italian and Norwegian flags the first to reach the Pole. Nearly a century later, Italy’s presence in the Arctic remains significant, with a strong scientific tradition led by the National Research Council (CNR). Italy’s Dirigibile Italia research base in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, is home to a team of Italian scientists conducting critical studies on climate change. They focus on the Arctic’s delicate ecosystem, examining issues such as glacial retreat, melting sea ice, and initiatives like the seed bank project.
While scientific contributions are the cornerstone of Italy’s Arctic presence, its involvement extends beyond research. Since 2009—and formally since 2013—Italy has been a permanent observer in the Arctic Council, the region’s most influential political forum. This role allows Italy to participate in annual ministerial meetings and engage with Arctic states at the highest level. Former Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who spearheaded Italy’s application to the Arctic Council, described it as a “place of high-level political reflection.” He believed that even as a Mediterranean nation, Italy’s presence in such a forum was essential.
At the time, the Arctic Council was seen as a “cooling chamber” for international tensions. Despite ongoing conflicts, such as those in Georgia and Ukraine, which pitted Russia against the United States and its allies, both nations continued to meet annually within the Arctic Council framework. This political significance motivated Italy to establish itself as a political actor in the Arctic.
In 2014, Italy published a national strategy for the Arctic titled Verso una strategia italiana per l’Artico (“Toward an Italian Strategy for the Arctic”), updated in 2015. This document outlined Italy’s priorities in the region, emphasising its scientific contributions while also addressing political engagement. The strategy highlighted the potential for private sector involvement, particularly in industries like energy, space, defense, and shipping, which began to see future opportunities in the Arctic.
In 2017, these diverse drivers led the Italian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Community Committee to launch a fact-finding investigation to clarify Italy’s interests and future prospects in the Arctic. One of the key outcomes of this investigation was the decision to initiate the High North program, led by the Italian Navy. While Italy had previously sailed Arctic waters, this program marked the first time it did so with a dedicated initiative and specific objectives.
The decision to launch High North came during a particularly delicate period for the Arctic. Experts had identified the end of Arctic Exceptionalism—a time when the region was insulated from global tensions. The turning point was Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which brought renewed international scrutiny to Russia’s actions, including in the Arctic. Notably, in 2007, Russia symbolically planted its flag on the seabed at the North Pole. While this act drew little immediate backlash, the annexation of Crimea reignited geopolitical tensions.
The Arctic Council was also undergoing changes. In 2013 – the same year of Italian admission – China and other Asian powers joined as observers, sparking debate among regional stakeholders. Some viewed the “globalisation” of the Arctic as an opportunity for economic growth, while others saw it as a threat to regional stability. Meanwhile, the effects of climate change—highlighted by IPCC reports—were transforming the Arctic and making it increasingly accessible.
Amid this turbulent backdrop, Italy’s High North program sought to contribute its maritime expertise, particularly in hydrography, to Arctic states. Initially, the Italian Navy focused on European Arctic waters, such as Norway’s coastline and the Svalbard archipelago. However, the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022 brought a significant shift in focus.
Strategic Shift in Italian Navy’s Arctic Operations
Initially focused on hydrographic and acoustic surveys along Norway’s coastline and the Svalbard archipelago, the Italian Navy’s Arctic activities have undergone a dramatic transformation. Traditionally centered on scientific exploration and international collaboration, these missions emphasised understanding the unique environmental dynamics of European Arctic waters. However, the Ukraine conflict in 2022 redefined the strategic value of these operations, embedding them in broader geopolitical and military considerations. The Arctic, once primarily a realm of research, has emerged as a critical zone for potential submarine activity and surveillance.
The waters around Svalbard hold heightened importance due to their complex underwater geography and strategic position. Submarine detection in these regions depends on detailed knowledge of salinity, temperature, and water density, which influence sound propagation underwater. This data, collected through the Italian Navy’s advanced surveys, has become invaluable for NATO. By enhancing submarine tracking capabilities, these efforts directly support NATO’s strategic objectives in Arctic waters, where stealth operations and reconnaissance are increasingly vital to countering potential threats from Russia’s Northern Fleet and other actors.
Svalbard’s location at the junction of the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean positions it as a strategic chokepoint. With the Arctic becoming a potential conflict zone due to climate change and the opening of new navigational routes, military interest in the region has surged. The Italian Navy’s contributions, through its vessel Nave Alliance, extend beyond scientific research to serve as a critical component of NATO’s defence architecture. As Arctic waters gain prominence in global security, Italy’s operations underline the interconnectedness of regional stability, resource competition, and the emerging dynamics of Arctic militarisation.
This evolution underscores Italy’s growing role as a security actor in the Arctic. Its contributions extend to international organisations like NATO, which has become the leading defence mechanism in the Arctic following Finland and Sweden’s accession. NATO’s presence highlights the increasing importance of the Arctic for European security, with Italy and its Navy positioned as an active participant in this evolving geopolitical landscape.
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