In 2026, We the Italians celebrates “Two Anniversaries, One Heart” – the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic. This article is part of the “Happy Birthday Italy” project, in which we explain why Italy is grateful to the United States for these past 80 years across 18 different sectors of our country’s life.
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Italy and the United States, from common defense to the new space frontier
In 2026, Italy and the United States are celebrating two anniversaries that belong not only to our shared memory, but also to our identity. On one side is the 250th anniversary of the United States, the world’s oldest constitutional democracy. On the other is the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic, born from the ruins of war and strengthened within a system of alliances that has ensured stability, freedom, and modernization. As both countries mark these milestones, the history of defense and security may be the most candid chapter of all – one that explains, without rhetoric, why Italy today has so much for which to thank the United States.
When the Italian Republic took its first steps, the world was already divided into opposing blocs. Italy was a vulnerable country, with a military to rebuild, an unstable Mediterranean, and a democracy still in its infancy. Joining NATO in 1949 was more than a geopolitical decision – it was a choice that shaped Italy’s destiny. The United States offered Italy not only protection, but also a model of collective security that allowed its democracy to grow without the constant threat of isolation. For decades, America’s strategic umbrella enabled Italy to focus on its economic, social, and industrial development. Security was no longer a solitary undertaking – it had become a shared responsibility.
This cooperation took tangible form at American military installations across Italy, including Sigonella, Aviano, Vicenza, Gaeta, and Camp Darby. These locations are often mentioned and sometimes debated, but their true function is rarely fully understood. At these installations, Italians and Americans have worked side by side to maintain stability in the Mediterranean, monitor crises, prevent threats, and train according to common standards. During the Cold War, these bases provided essential deterrence. In the decades that followed, they became logistical and operational platforms supporting missions in the Balkans, the Middle East, and the Persian Gulf, as well as counterterrorism efforts. They are hubs of interoperability – places where Italian and American security intersect and where procedures, technologies, and military doctrines merge into a common language.
The most profound contribution to the transformation of Italy’s defense establishment, however, has come through innovation. The United States introduced a technological and doctrinal culture into the Italian military system that accelerated the modernization of the Armed Forces. A great many Italian officers have studied at American military academies and institutions, gaining an approach to security based on rapid decision-making, interoperability, and integration across operational domains.
Industrial cooperation has enabled Italy to participate in advanced programs ranging from 5th-generation aircraft and missile systems to secure communications, transport aircraft, and major naval projects. These have not been simple procurement arrangements. They have been genuine partnerships that strengthened Italy’s domestic technological base and created an industrial ecosystem capable of competing globally.
Then there is space, the new strategic domain. Artemis II, the first crewed mission toward the Moon in more than 50 years, symbolizes a partnership that no longer looks only at Earth. Artemis is not a repetition of the Apollo missions – it marks the beginning of a new era. The objective is not merely to return to the Moon, but to establish a lasting presence there by building permanent infrastructure, transforming the lunar surface into a scientific and operational laboratory, and preparing for the journey to Mars.
Italy is not merely an observer in this endeavor – it is a leading participant. The country contributes to the European Service Module, or ESM, of the Orion spacecraft, which is essential to the crew’s propulsion, power supply, and life-support functions. Leonardo manufactures the 11-kilowatt solar panels that power the spacecraft’s onboard systems. Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio provide tracking, control, and mission-support technologies. In addition, an agreement signed in Washington in 2026 calls for Italy to participate in the construction of lunar habitation modules, bringing Italian engineering excellence into space.
Artemis II demonstrates that cooperation between Italy and the United States is no longer confined to the land or air – it now extends into space, which has become a strategic domain alongside land, sea, air, and cyberspace. In this new environment, security is measured not only in bases, fleets, and aircraft, but also in the ability to operate in orbit, protect satellites, develop dual-use technologies, and build infrastructure that may one day prove essential to both defense and the economy.
This cooperation is further reinforced by NASA’s selection of Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano as the crew pilot for Artemis III, with testing scheduled for 2027 and a lunar landing planned for 2028.
The Italian Republic’s 80-year history tells the story of a country that learned to grow within a system of alliances, international missions, and technological partnerships. The United States has been Italy’s most consistent partner – in the Balkans, Lebanon, and the Persian Gulf, as well as in counterterrorism operations, maritime security, and airspace defense. Italy’s gratitude is not rhetorical. It reflects an awareness that Italian democracy was able to develop in a protected environment, where threats were contained by an alliance greater than any single country.
And so, as we celebrate “Two Anniversaries, One Heart” in 2026, we recognize that the history of security is also a history of trust. The United States helped Italy become a secure, modern, and forward-looking republic. Italy, in turn, has contributed to American security through its role in the Mediterranean, NATO missions, space exploration, and industrial programs. Two anniversaries, one heart – because freedom is never an isolated gift, but the result of a shared commitment.
That is why, today as in the past, the American and Italian peoples stand on the same side of history. They stood together during the Cold War, defending Europe against the threat of division. They stood together in peacekeeping missions, during crises in the Mediterranean, in the fight against terrorism, and in the defense of allied airspace. Now they also stand together in deep space, where Artemis II signals the beginning of a new era.
They will continue to stand together tomorrow, when security will be measured not only by military strength, but by the ability to protect digital infrastructure, space ecosystems, energy networks, and democratic identities. In a changing world, Italy and the United States will remain allies because they share what matters most – the conviction that freedom must always be defended, that human rights are universal, and that democracy is a daily commitment rather than an inheritance that can be taken for granted.
Two anniversaries, one heart – and a future that will once again find Italy and the United States standing together on the side of history where freedom does not retreat, dignity does not fade, and democracies do not surrender.
