A resounding pledge at a far-right gathering in Pontida underscores opposition to military involvement abroad.
Pontida, septiembre 2025.
Under a sky charged with nationalist fervor, Matteo Salvini addressed a gathering in Pontida flanked by Jordan Bardella and Santiago Abascal, declaring that Italy will never send its children to fight in Ukraine. With strong applause, he affirmed a broader rejection of involvement in what he called “foreign wars” and insisted that Italy stands for sovereignty, national identity, and peace at home.
The speech resonated among audience members who view the conflict through the prism of intervention fatigue and distrust of alliances. Salvini’s stance aligns with those of his counterparts Bardella and Abascal, who used the occasion to reinforce themes of national self-determination and skepticism toward global military entanglements. According to transcripts made public later, Salvini argued that Italy is “not at war with anyone” and that sending troops abroad would betray both family and homeland values.
Political analysts from the European Council on Foreign Relations observed that this kind of rhetoric has been gaining traction among right-wing populist parties across Western Europe as they respond to voter concerns over rising defense spending, extended military deployments and refugee flows. Observers in Paris and Madrid noted that similar messages are becoming staples of election campaigns, particularly in constituencies sensitive to economic hardship and disillusionment with traditional foreign policy.
In a brief message conveyed via video, Abascal echoed Salvini’s priorities, urging that European nations safeguard national sovereignty and refrain from foreign wars, while Bardella emphasized that France and Italy share a mission to defend identity against what he described as external pressures. These alignments signal not only ideological affinity but a growing coordination among European populist leaders, who see opposition to interventionism as both a political advantage and a marker of authenticity among their base.
Critics warn that such pronouncements may oversimplify complex geopolitical stakes. For some foreign policy experts, refusal to support Ukraine — materially or militarily — could limit Europe’s ability to influence peace negotiations, empower aggressors, or weaken transatlantic solidarity. Other voices point out that “never sending children to fight” is an emotionally powerful slogan that sidesteps the more nuanced debates about NATO obligations, humanitarian aid, defense procurement, and deterrence.
As Salvini and allies double down, the question remains whether this posture will translate into policy shifts in government, especially as Italy and Spain balance domestic pressures with external commitments. The speech at Pontida may well mark a milestone in the reframing of interventionism not as a necessity but as a liability in the eyes of a growing portion of the European electorate.
Cada silencio habla.
Every silence speaks.