Rome could buy the Japanese Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft to tackle hostile submarines in the Mediterranean, a possible break from U.S. suppliers.
"The concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base," the fired commander wrote.
Earlier this spring, the Navy unit launched a handful of unmanned vessels from Aqaba, Jordan, into the Red Sea with a broad-edged surveillance mission.