Italian Senate Finally Approves Grant of Garibaldi Aircraft Carrier to Indonesia

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, ROME – The Italian Senate (Senato della Repubblica) has finally approved the Ministerial Decision Draft on the free transfer of the Giuseppe Garibaldi to the Republic of Indonesia Navy (No. 383), dated 24 March 2026. The Chair of the 3rd Committee (Defence) of the Italian Senate, Stefania Gabriella Anastasia Craxi, stated that in the previous session, she had requested a 10-day extension regarding the opinions of all committees.

Since the extension was granted, the new deadline for those opinions is now set for Thursday (26/4/2026). That day will be decisive for the Italian government to issue the legal umbrella for granting the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier (C551) to Indonesia.

Quoted from the official Italian Senate website, Craxi closed the discussion without intervention from the attending senators. Senator Stefania Pucciarelli (LSP-PSd’Az), from the government-supporting party, presented a draft opinion supporting the grant policy.

Senator Roberto Menia (FdI), from the main government-supporting party, also supported the draft regulation that will be enacted next month. Moreover, he had received explanations from Admiral Giacinto Ottaviani, Deputy Chief of Staff of Defence and National Armaments Director of the Italian Ministry of Defence.

Senator Bruno Marton from the opposition camp (M5S) announced his political group’s stance, which remains opposed to the bill. He emphasised the serious information gaps identified regarding the bill, reminding that the Committee has long required adequate and complete documentation on the Government Bill submitted for Italian Parliament’s opinion.

Senator Graziano Delrio from the main opposition party (PD-IDP) also agreed with Marton, stating that his political group opposes the bill. According to him, the additional information that emerged during the bill’s examination was essentially obtained thanks to investigative journalism coverage and does not clarify the relationship between the Ministry of Defence and private companies.

Senator Enrico Borghi (IV-C-RE) also announced his party’s vote against the bill. Although rejected by the opposition camp, the regulation will still be enacted at the next session due to the numerical defeat.