Italy's restoration of the ancient bull mosaic at Pompeii, timed with a surge of British tourists, is more than a cultural gesture. This is a strategic pivot in the Mediterranean influence game. The bull, a symbol of Roman might, now stands as a message to hostile state actors that Italy is reclaiming its historical leverage.
But the timing is suspect. With British tourists flocking, there is a clear threat vector: tourist data flows and biometric trails are vulnerable to cyber warfare. The mosaic's restoration diverts attention from critical defence gaps in the region.
Logistics matter. Every tourist is a potential sensor, yet their phones are easy targets for state-sponsored exploitation. The intelligence failure here is the lack of integrated threat assessment.
While Italy polishes ancient stones, the real battle rages in the electromagnetic spectrum. We must treat this as a hostile act: a distraction from the hard reality of military readiness.
