(MENAFN) Italy's top military officer issued a stark warning Wednesday, stating that Russia is rebuilding its military capabilities more rapidly than Western analysts had projected—fueling renewed pressure to strengthen NATO and EU defense postures.

Defense Staff Gen. Luciano Portolano told lawmakers during a session with the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees of the Italian Parliament that "Moscow is rebuilding its lost military capabilities and is growing militarily at a faster rate than expected," according to a state broadcaster.

He cautioned that "at the moment, there are no signs that suggest a reconversion of the Russian military industry to civilian purposes, even in the event of a ceasefire."

Portolano stressed the importance of reinforcing deterrence mechanisms in response to what he described as an increasingly volatile global security environment threatening both NATO and the European Union.

Underscoring the need for wider international coordination, he urged closer ties not only within existing alliances but also with non-traditional partners to safeguard global peace and security.

The general also presented six key priorities from Italy’s recently updated national military strategy, which was submitted to Defense Minister Guido Crosetto earlier this week. He said Italy's armed forces are undergoing a sweeping transformation aimed at enhancing their readiness, modernization, and ability to operate across multiple domains.

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