Italian Army Chief warns of rising hybrid warfare threats

Italian Army Chief of Staff, General Carmine Masiello, has issued a warning regarding the rise of hybrid warfare, stating that modern militaries must be technological to remain relevant. He characterized the current landscape as a state of hybrid war, noting that serious cyber attacks have increased by nearly 50% globally and over 40% in Italy.

According to Masiello, hybrid threats include sabotage of undersea cables and infrastructure, satellite signal jamming, airspace violations, and electoral interference. He specifically highlighted cognitive warfare, where disinformation aims to undermine national cohesion by targeting individuals via smartphones. To combat this, the Army plans to distribute a cognitive self-defense manual to personnel to help recognize and verify information.

Using the conflict in Ukraine as a laboratory, Masiello noted the convergence of conventional, technological, and cognitive warfare. He criticized Western militaries for operating under the illusion of permanent peace for the last two decades, arguing that the previous model of peacekeeping operations is no longer sufficient for the current era of mass-produced drone warfare and electronic combat.