(B2) The Italian contingent for the Takuba task force should arrive during the second week of March
(credit: 9th regiment Col Moschin - Italian army)
The information is given by the daily The paper. A first reconnaissance team from the field returned to Italy, in a way giving the final green light to the deployment.
20 vehicles and eight helicopters
The contingent should be made up of a good hundred men, mostly from the special forces. They will be equipped with twenty vehicles and eight helicopters: four AW-129D Mangusta attack aircraft and four NH-90 transport helicopters, according to Difesa on Line. This contribution is part of the authorization given by the Italian Parliament, in the summer of 2020, to send a force of 200 men (read: The Italians enter the Takuba task force in Mali). (1)
special forces
The workforce could be provided, on a rotational basis, by the 9th parachute assault regiment, Col Moschin, of the GOI (Incursion Operational Group) of the navy, of the GIS (Special Intervention Group) of the Carabinieri and the 17th Stormo Incursori of the air force, indicates the site Difesa on Line which is based on the similar format engaged by the Italian army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Personnel from these units have also been deployed to Libya. Teams from the 4th Alpine Parachute Regiment of Monte Cervino and the 185th RRO Folgore (the reconnaissance regiment for the acquisition of targets or Regiment Recognition Acquisition Objectives) could also be deployed.
The first deployment of the Draghi government
In any case, this will be the first external operation deployed by the new Italian government led by Mario Draghi bringing together a broad coalition (from the Northern League on the right to the Democratic Party on the left, via the 5 Star Movement and the Italia Viva by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi).
Comment: A welcome contingent
The Italian contingent should be particularly appreciated on the spot. On the one hand by its importance — Rome sends a contingent similar to the Swedes —; on the other hand, by its quality. The Italians have a certain accustomed to Africa (Libya, Central African Republic...), difficult deployments, and linguistic proximity (the lack of French speakers in the Swedish detachment makes contact with the Malians more difficult). The presence of eight helicopters (if confirmed) is also a notable contribution.
(NGV)
The figure of 200 corresponds to the maximum authorized, not automatically to the effective strength engaged.
Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).
