Italy Defense Undersecretary visits Bari security operations

Undersecretary of Defense Isabella Rauti visited Bari during the Ferragosto holiday to meet with military personnel deployed in the ‘Strade Sicure’ (Safe Streets) and ‘Stazioni Sicure’ (Safe Stations) operations. These long-standing security initiatives involve approximately 6,800 military personnel working alongside police and the Guardia di Finanza to provide surveillance at major railway hubs and critical sites.

In Bari, military presence includes monitoring the Cara di Bari Palese and the Bari San Paolo Repatriation Center (CPR). Rauti noted that the CPR has recently been involved in expulsion proceedings, highlighting a 34.3% increase in total repatriations during the first half of 2026. She emphasized the Meloni government's ongoing efforts to establish repatriation hubs in African nations and to prioritize border protection within the European Union agenda.