Berlin, 16 February 2026. As part of the activities related to Exercise Steadfast Dart 2026, the Commander of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) first met with the Chief of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, and later with the Italian Ambassador to Berlin, Fabrizio Bucci.
The discussions explored technical and operational issues, with particular focus on the integration of air assets with naval and amphibious, land, special forces, as well as cyber and space capabilities within the Alliance’s multi-domain framework. Attention then shifted to continuous command and control capabilities, interoperability among the 13 contributing nations, and coordination with the host nation—essential elements to ensure readiness, freedom of maneuver, and rapid reinforcement across different operational contexts.
During the meetings, especially the one with the Italian Ambassador, the significant Italian military contribution was highlighted, including the ARF Headquarters led by NRDC-ITA, the Multinational Division South based in Florence, the Julia Alpine Brigade, the ARF support Brigade and the Folgore’s logistical units of the Italian Army. The meeting also reaffirmed the role of the ARF as a platform for innovation and experimentation, where advanced technologies, evolving command-and-control architectures, and new operational concepts are developed and integrated across all domains. In this perspective, the ARF Command also serves as a hub for multinational training and education, fostering the growth of shared expertise and the standardization of procedures among Allies.
Finally, the ARF Commander expressed sincere appreciation and gratitude for the support received from the authorities he met, emphasizing how institutional and operational contributions represent a decisive factor in strengthening the cohesion, credibility, and deterrence capability of the Alliance.