Italy deploys troops amid nationwide strikes and port blockades

By Karim Hammam

Italy's government has deployed 500 army troops to Milan as nationwide strikes and port blockades disrupt major cities, with protesters rallying against the cost of living and high military spending.

Nationwide strikes and port blockades

Major demonstrations are expected in Rome, Milan and other cities, while protesters plan to blockade ports in Genoa, Livorno, Trieste and elsewhere. The action was called by the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) and other trade unions.

Violent clashes and government crackdown

Recent weeks have seen violent protests across Italy and Europe. Masked protesters looted stores in Milan and threw projectiles at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. Protesters also stormed Rome’s historic Colosseum on Saturday, while farmers and truckers blockaded highways and ports in the south over high fuel prices linked to the war in Iran. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has made law and order a key tenet of her administration, said she had “great respect” for peaceful protesters but introduced tougher penalties for rioters, including financial liability for parents of children involved in vandalism and looting. “There is nothing revolutionary about vandalizing and stealing. Vandalism and theft are not protest, they are criminality,” Meloni said.

Troop deployment and European wave

The government announced the deployment of 500 army troops alongside police in Milan until the end of 2026. The demonstrations in Italy appear partly inspired by similar unrest in France, Spain, Portugal and Belgium, where protests over living costs and social security have erupted.