The Mare Aperto 25 exercise officially begins today. It is the largest annual defense training exercise in the maritime domain, planned and conducted by the Italian Navy. The operation will involve over 120 assets, including naval units, submarines, aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned underwater, aerial, and surface vehicles. More than 6,000 military personnel from eight NATO nations will take part, alongside observers from 21 foreign navies. 

For the next three weeks, with the participation of components from the Army, Air Force, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, and Coast Guard, Italian Navy crews and operational units will train in the Central Mediterranean, facing complex and highly realistic operational scenarios. The exercise includes an intensive training program, with a particular focus on countering CBRN threats (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) in the maritime domain and their potential impact on land.

As part of this scenario, a Forward Medical Post will be set up in the port of Civitavecchia to manage a simulated medical emergency caused by a chemical contamination event. The operation will be carried out in close coordination with interforce and interagency experts, enhancing crisis response capabilities in multi-dimensional scenarios.  

The 2025 edition will mark the operational debut of the Trieste, a multi-role amphibious assault ship, and the largest military vessel built in Italy since World War II. It will replace Nave Garibaldi after over 40 years of service.  

Special attention will be given to the underwater domain, with the use of autonomous underwater and surface vehicles to protect critical underwater infrastructure. These activities will be integrated into ITA Minex 25, a federated mine countermeasure exercise within Mare Aperto, involving both Italian minehunters and the NATO Mine Countermeasures Task Group 441.04.  

International naval components will also take part, including the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) and the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR), which has been activated for the occasion.​  

Mare Aperto is a Defense-led maritime exercise that, in addition to integrating elements from all Armed Forces and State Corps, benefits from the participation of civilian research centers such as CASD, CESI, and CESMAR. The academic community is also strongly involved: around 100 students, professors, and tutors from various universities will embark on Fleet units to gain insights into the strategic role of Defense in national security and trans-regional stability.