HAWAII (TVBS News) — Italy made its debut at the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) in Hawaii, which began on June 27. The Italian Navy sent its newest frigate, the Raimondo Montecuccoli, commissioned in September 2023, to join the 29 participating nations.
The Montecuccoli boasts cutting-edge facilities, including an exclusive combat information center, multiple beer dispensers, and iconic Italian coffee machines. The ship showcased its AgustaWestland AW101 helicopter, capable of transporting 30 people at once, highlighting its advanced capabilities.
Captain Alessandro Troia noted the frigate's versatile modules, which can be adapted for disaster relief, environmental protection, or special forces operations. He emphasized the Montecuccoli's strong anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-ship capabilities, enhanced by a state-of-the-art combat information center for battlefield analysis.
Italy's participation in RIMPAC has drawn attention due to its NATO membership. “We're part of NATO, but in this situation, we are just ambassadors of the Italian Navy,” stated Capt. Troia, who revealed that Italy would not participate in the high-profile sinking exercise (SINKEX).
Capt. Troia expressed hopes of learning with partners to achieve interoperability and mutual understanding. He stressed the importance of dialogue, mutual understanding, and building diplomatic relations through the exercise, aiming to strengthen transnational cooperation.
Italy's involvement in RIMPAC influences its support in the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting broader geopolitical shifts.
