The formal handover between Colonel Alaimo and Fraticelli in the presence of the Operational Commander of the Joint Forces Summit
The change in command of the NATO Multinational Battle Group took place at the Novo Selo Training Area (NSTA) between Colonel Francesco Alaimo, yielding commander, and the parigrade Andrea Fraticelli.
The Transfer of Authority (ToA) ceremony was presided over by the Operational Commander of Vertice Interforze (COVI), Army Corps General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo.
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Numerous civil and military authorities were present, including the Ambassador of Italy in Bulgaria, Giuseppina Zarra, the Commander of the Bulgarian Joint Force Command, Major General Valeri Konstantinov Tsolov and the Commander of Multinational Division South East, Major General Dorin Thomas.
"Being here with you is a source of great satisfaction for me”, General Figliuolo said addressing the deployed Italian contingent, “even more so because today you finish a mission of absolute importance, started six months ago with the aim of contributing to strengthening NATO's defensive and deterrent posture on the Eastern flank of the Alliance”.
The COVI Commander complimented the results achieved by the contingent in the area of operations. The Italian soldiers, mostly from the Pinerolo Brigade of the Italian Army, took part in various multinational exercises: from Strike Back, which sanctioned the "full operational capability" of the Battlegroup, at Iron Strike or to Freetown, training side by side with colleagues from Allied countries.
The symbolic passage of the squad between Colonel Alaimo, commander in Italy of the 82nd Infantry Regiment of Barletta, and the parigrad Andrea Fraticelli, at the helm of the 7th Bersaglieri Regiment of Altamura, sanctioned the transfer of responsibility of the multinational unit which in Bulgaria operates under the Enhanced Vigilance Activity (eVA).
THE NATIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATO MISSION IN BULGARIA
From 17 October 2022, Italy assumed the role of lead nation of the NATO Battle Group deployed in Bulgaria, one of the 4 newly established as part of the enhanced Vigilance Activity initiative aimed at increasing the Alliance's deterrence capability along the flank Eastern Europe, which are added to the others already operating in the Baltic countries.
The Italian-led Battle Group has 740 men and women from the Army in addition to the contributions provided by the USA, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia.
The use of units of the Italian Army, in Bulgarian territory for the first time, was possible thanks to the drafting of specific technical-logistic-administrative agreements between the Allies and Bulgaria, the host nation.
By joining the "eVA" initiative, Italy confirms itself among the main contributor countries, in terms of men, means and resources, to the strengthening of NATO's position of deterrence and defense on the eastern flank. In Bulgaria, Italy will employ around 740 men and women.
The training activities of the Multinational Battle Group Bulgaria are carried out jointly with the already existing NATO battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia and extend along the eastern flank of NATO, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.
The Battle Groups were established by the Alliance in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in concert with NATO defense plans. In addition to the contingent in Bulgaria, Italy is present in the Battle Groups in Latvia and Hungary.
THE MISSION OF NATO IN BULGARIA
Operation "eVA" in Bulgaria is a measure of a defensive nature, proportionate and fully in line with NATO's international commitment which intends to strengthen the principle of deterrence and defense of the alliance. Deterrence against potential threats and defense of Euro-Atlantic spaces.
The deployment of the battle groups is the concrete demonstration of the solidarity and cohesion existing between the NATO member countries, as well as the ability and determination to defend the territories and populations of the alliance.