Guido Crosetto's warning about the state of national security doesn't come as a surprise, but it has institutions trembling: the security plan is under scrutiny, and the gaps are clearly emerging. In Italy, the lack of adequate measures for the President of the Republic in the event of an external attack raises disturbing questions. "A defense minister must always assume the worst ," Crosetto warns, but at the Quirinale Palace the issue appears not to be a priority.
The absent bunker
The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, does not have a nuclear bunker, a legacy of the Cold War that has long been decommissioned. Today, the only safe haven is reserved for the Prime Minister, in the Forte Braschi bunker, while even the Interior and Defense Ministers find themselves with measures that do not appear to guarantee real protection: "Those rooms would not be able to withstand an air attack ," commented a reliable source.
A forgotten past
Once upon a time, there was a bunker on Monte Soratte, a labyrinth of tunnels built in 1937 and transformed into a nuclear bomb shelter. Today, that site is relegated to tourist visits, while the only active site is DC 75 in Montelibretti, 50 kilometers from Rome. As Crosetto warns, "It's incredible that the Ministry of Defense, when building a bunker, has to follow the same rules as a contractor building an industrial warehouse ." This delay in planning is so severe that helicopter flights would be disrupted in a hypothetical air attack.
Restrictive rules
Further complicating the situation is a new provision prohibiting high-ranking government officials from traveling together. This measure was enacted after Silvio Berlusconi's funeral, when the entire government boarded the same plane. Matteo Piantedosi, former Interior Minister, commented with black irony: "One coup here and they'll take out the entire government . "
In response to Crosetto's concerns, the Ministry of Defense clarified that the minister had not made any recent statements on the issue, and emphasized the absurdity of the bureaucratic rules currently hindering security measures. But the truth is that national security cannot wait any longer.
The restrictive travel rules for high-level officials seem necessary to me, but at the same time, it's strange that more effective measures haven't been implemented before. National security must always be a priority.
There are too many gaps in government security, especially without a nuclear bunker for the president. It's incredible that adequate protection hasn't been provided. Institutions must seriously address these issues.
The article highlights serious national security issues. The gaps in the security plan are worrying, and the lack of a bunker for the president is truly critical. This situation should be addressed.