On September 23, 2024, the PPA Montecuccoli, part of the Italian carrier strike group deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, took part in a particularly significant moment in relations between Italy and Thailand.
On board the most modern ship of the Italian Navy, the Italian Ambassador to Bangkok, Paolo Dionisi, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto and a delegation of high-ranking officials of the Thai military forces including the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Minister of Defense, Major General Bronvich Hiranyasthiti and the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Fleet, Admiral Chatchai Thongsaard, arrived for a "live" demonstration of the operational capabilities of this type of unit, characterized by a high degree of reliability, flexibility and versatility.
The PPA Montecuccoli represents the vanguard of the Navy, a ship designed to carry out a wide range of missions, from humanitarian missions to maritime patrol and the protection of trade routes, from surveillance to advanced military operations, standing out for its operational versatility.
Admiral Berutti Bergotto expressed great satisfaction in presenting a project that enhances Made in Italy technology and that, thanks to the sensor suite, can be considered a true generational leap in terms of innovative solutions and configurability.
During the visit on board the Montecuccoli, guests witnessed several demonstrations of the ship's operational capabilities, including an exercise to counter asymmetric threats Low Slow Flyer and a simulation of Maritime Interdiction Operations.
During this exercise, a naval boarding was simulated, conducted with a small, high-performance organic vessel, with cover provided by the embarked SH-101 helicopter.
This type of cooperation and exchange between the naval forces of the two countries consolidates military collaboration in the Indo-Pacific area, a region of growing strategic importance for the nation and for Europe.
Finally, Ambassador Paolo Dionisi emphasized the profound significance of the visit of the Montecuccoli with a view to strengthening bilateral relations between Italy and Thailand, highlighting how Italian technology and skills are a factor of development and growth that can be shared with partner countries.
Once the activity at sea is completed, the PPA Montecuccoli has reached the port of Laem Chabang (Thailand), the twelfth stage of the operational projection campaign, where the Undersecretary of State for Defense, the Honorable Matteo Perego di Cremnago, during his visit to Thailand, met, together with the ambassador, the crew of the ship.
“In an era where an action perpetrated in a distant place can have repercussions thousands of miles away, it is necessary to focus on the effects that Defense is able to generate in all domains", these are the words of the Undersecretary of State for Defense, who confirmed how fundamental Italy's presence is in the Indo-Pacific Region, an area increasingly central to international balances and global security.
Ship Montecuccoli, during its stopover in Laem Chabang, also hosted the “Defence Industry Forum”, an event dedicated to the promotion of the major national industrial companies operating in the Defence sector, exploring concrete opportunities for collaboration.
Il Montecuccoli, with the combination of innovative capabilities and professionalism of its crew, has proven to be an ideal stage to promote not only Italian industrial excellence, but also cooperation between two important players sharing common interests in the context of global maritime security.