Steadfast Duel 25 - Gen. Nicola Mandolesi: Professional and Competent Italian Military

The exercise STEADFAST DUEL 25 (STDU25), one of NATO's main training activities for 2025, aimed at testing the Alliance's ability to plan, coordinate, and conduct joint operations in high-intensity crisis and conflict scenarios, concluded with full success.

This year's edition, characterized by a marked warfighting profile, involved multi-domain operations — land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace — simulating integrated responses to conventional threats and verifying command interoperability according to the principle of “train as you fight”.

Among the protagonists of the activity, the Italian contingent stationed at the Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFC BS) stood out, composed of 45 highly specialized military personnel, integrated into the multinational staff and engaged in operational planning, command and control, and operations analysis.
The Italian personnel operated side by side with colleagues from over thirty member countries, contributing decisively to the simulation of a collective response under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, ensuring a high level of coordination and interoperability within the Command.

The 2025 edition was particularly significant, as for the first time the three NATO Joint Force Commands — Brunssum, Naples, and Norfolk — operated in an integrated manner while maintaining their respective operational responsibilities. This achievement allowed for the concrete testing of interaction between the NATO Command Structure (NCS) and the NATO Force Structure (NFS) through advanced simulation systems and a continuous 24-hour operational cycle.

The contribution of the Italian contingent stood out for its effectiveness, leadership, and integration capability, confirming Italy's strategic role within the Atlantic Alliance.

“The Italian contingent has once again demonstrated its ability to provide a decisive contribution in terms of professionalism and competence within the Alliance,” stated General Nicola Mandolesi, Deputy Chief Of Staff Support (DCOS Support) at JFC Brunssum.

The words of Gen. B. Mandolesi (former Commander of the 187th Paratroopers Regiment Folgore) summarize the spirit with which Italy continues to operate in the NATO context: dedication, strategic vision, and the ability to lead complex processes in an international setting.

With the participation of military personnel from all member countries, STEADFAST DUEL 25 reaffirmed the unity, cohesion, and readiness of the Alliance in ensuring the collective security of the Euro-Atlantic area, while the commitment of the Italian contingent — under the guidance and coordination of Gen. B. Nicola Mandolesi — confirms our country as an operational and strategic pillar of NATO.