Gladio: NATO’s Secret Cold War Operation in Italy

This report investigates Gladio, one of Europe's most significant state secrets and a enduring scandal in Italy. Established by NATO in the aftermath of World War II, Gladio was a clandestine stay-behind army designed to counter the potential spread of communism across Western Europe during the Cold War. The covert network operated through secret cells in approximately ten European countries, with Italy serving as a central hub for these activities. Known by the code name Gladio in Italy, this operation remained hidden from public view for decades. Today, the revelation of these activities continues to shake Italian society and politics, raising profound questions about sovereignty, democratic oversight, and the extent of foreign intelligence influence within national borders. The article, reported by Natalia Mendoza, Tommaso Marro, and Laura Roudaut for France 24, highlights the lasting impact of this historical covert operation. It underscores how Cold War strategies implemented by international alliances like NATO have left a complex legacy of secrecy and controversy that still resonates in contemporary European political discourse, particularly in nations where these secret armies were active.