Italian government claims Milan protests are the result of a 'hybrid war'

The Italian government claims the protests in Milan are the result of a 'hybrid war', an accusation that shifts the focus from the street to foreign interference. The claim comes without detailed public evidence and should be treated for what it is: an official thesis.

Italy's government has described the protests that took place in Milan as a 'hybrid war'. The report is by **Pepe Campos** and published by **ABC.es**. It is an accusation that should be read carefully, because it mixes two different things: what is happening on the street and who is driving it.

## What 'hybrid war' means when a government uses it

The term is used to describe hostile actions that fall short of armed conflict: disinformation, economic pressure, cyberattacks or social agitation. Attributing protests to a 'hybrid war' is a way of saying they do not arise on their own.

That has economic consequences. If a government considers a protest to be foreign interference, it can justify security measures, controls or restrictions that affect activity in the city. **Milan** is the country's financial centre, and any tension on its streets is closely watched.

## The accusation and what remains to be proven

The label comes from the Italian government, according to the published report. It contains no public list of evidence or identified perpetrators. An official thesis is not the same as a proven fact.

That is why the economic debate centres on the cost of uncertainty: if the protest is perceived as destabilisation, country risk suffers and investor confidence weakens. If it is perceived as ordinary social discontent, the problem is a different one.

## Why it matters beyond Italy

Italy is the eurozone's third-largest economy. What its government calls a 'hybrid war' shapes how other protests in Europe are read. And it opens the door to any mobilisation being explained by external factors.

That framework carries an obvious risk: diverting attention from domestic causes, such as prices, wages or housing. The accusation is official and has been published. The evidence, for now, is not known.