U.S. Navy to Withdraw from Italy

In a move to adjust its forces to meet current and future readiness needs in the European theater, the United States and Italy have decided to remove U.S. Navy forces from La Maddalena, Sardinia, according to a Naval Newsstand report. The U.S. and Italian governments are working on a timeline for the withdrawal of forces. The United States has determined that the capabilities provided by the installation are no longer required due to the realities of the new century’s security environment. The departure of the Navy will affect approximately 1,800 people employed on the base. Approximately 1,100 are U.S. Navy personnel serving aboard USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and the associated submarine support squadron. There are an additional 475 military members, 150 local nationals and 75 U.S. Navy civilians employed at the Naval Support Activity. Including family members, there are approximately 2,500 U.S. personnel stationed at La Maddalena, according to the report. Future U.S. requirements will be considered in re-locating resources to support theater-wide transformation and security plans. The scheduled removal of U.S. forces in La Maddalena is not expected to impact the Navy’s mission of providing peace and security in the region. Source: Naval Newsstand