WASHINGTON D.C. — The Chief of Staff of the Army, General of the Army Corps Carmine Masiello, concluded an official visit to the United States on the occasion of the AUSA 2025 Annual Meeting & Exposition, the largest event in the world dedicated to cooperation between Armed Forces, institutions, and the defense industry.
Organized by the Association of the United States Army, the event took place from October 13 to 15, 2025 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, attracting thousands of military and civilian delegates from over 70 countries. This year's edition focused on the transformation of land forces and international cooperation in an increasingly interconnected global security context.
Strategic dialogue and bilateral relations
During the institutional mission, General Masiello had a busy schedule of bilateral meetings. Among these, meetings with the Chief of Defense Staff of Slovenia, Lieutenant General Robert Glavaš, and the Chief of Staff of the Swedish Army, General Dan Jonny Mattias Lindfors, aimed at strengthening collaboration in shared security, interoperability, and multinational training.
On the sidelines of the visit, the Chief of Staff met with H.E. Marco Peronaci, Ambassador of Italy to the United States, for a discussion on the main lines of bilateral cooperation in defense, with particular reference to joint industrial and technological programs between Italy and the USA.
A moment of great symbolic value was the ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery, where General Masiello laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and paid tribute to the Italian soldiers buried in the United States, renewing the historical bond of brotherhood between the two Armies.
In the context of academic activities, the General delivered a Lectio Magistralis at the Inter-American Defense College, in the presence of the Commander, Major General Richard J. Heitkamp, and a qualified international audience. His speech, centered on joint cooperation and global security, aroused great interest among the armed forces officers of the participating countries.
Italy at AUSA 2025
The participation of General Masiello represented a moment of institutional and strategic visibility for the Italian Army. Numerous companies from the defense sector, including Leonardo, Fincantieri, and other Italian entities, were present in the exhibition area, confirming Italy's role as a reliable partner in technological innovation and the production of advanced weapon systems.
AUSA 2025 hosted over 700 exhibitors, focusing on robotics, tactical drones, autonomous systems, electronic defense, and artificial intelligence. The forum also offered sessions dedicated to the modernization of land forces, the digital integration of command and control, and the evolution of multi-domain conflicts.
The presence of the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army at AUSA 2025 testifies to the centrality of cooperation with the United States and NATO allies in a phase of strong technological and doctrinal transformation.
Italy's commitment to dialogue with strategic partners such as the United States, Sweden, and Slovenia is part of a broader path of strengthening interoperability, an essential element to face the challenges of collective security and consolidate the country's role in the Euro-Atlantic defense system.
Conclusion
With his participation in the AUSA 2025 Annual Meeting & Exposition, General Carmine Masiello reaffirmed the international vocation of the Italian Army, highlighting the importance of strategic dialogue and industrial cooperation as pillars of global security.
In a global context characterized by unprecedented tensions and innovations, the Italian presence in Washington D.C. consolidates the message of an Italy as a protagonist — capable of uniting tradition, technology, and alliances to build the defense of the future.
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