Review of History and Political Science

The Contribution of the Italian Guardia di Finanza in Military Operations in the Mediterranean and Greater Middle East (2006-2022)
Flavia De Lucia Lumeno

Abstract
This study examines three significant military operations conducted over the past 15 years to safeguard the Mediterranean and Greater Middle East. The operations under scrutiny are ISAF in Afghanistan, EUNAVFOR MED Sophia in Libya, and Themis in Tunisia. The research focuses on the pivotal role played by Italy's Guardia di Finanza, an ancient police force with a military structure, in these operations, particularly through specific missions such as Sarissa and Grifo. A comprehensive review of the extant literature, encompassing both specialised reviews and official documents from both the EU and NATO, as well as parliamentary records from Italy, has been undertaken in order to analyse the Guardia di Finanza's contributions to crisis management and prevention. The study highlights the dual police and military capabilities of the corps, and its instrumental role in training local forces, conducting maritime patrols, and combating illegal trafficking. The findings emphasise the importance of specialised military police forces in international peacekeeping and border security operations, demonstrating the Guardia di Finanza's significant impact on enhancing regional stability and security cooperation in the Mediterranean basin.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/rhps.v11a4