Ministero della Difesa

​“Italy will continue to play its part within the NATO mission in Afghanistan, especially in our commitment in the assigned area, Sector West, based in Herat. We will take decisions on our future steps together, considering some fundamental issues: in the first place, the safety of our contingents“, Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini said at the end of his phone call with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The talk focused on the future of the mission, following the US decision to drawdown their contingents in Afghanistan and Iraq. The decision was anticipated recently, and yesterday it was formally shared with other Allies.

During the talk, Guerini reiterated the Italian position, that is summed up in the motto “together in, together out, adjust together “, and said that the next event we must look up to is NATO’s February ministers ‘ meeting, that will take place after the swearing in of the new US government.

“That will be the time when the Alliance must assess its posture in Afghanistan. It will have to decide if and how the mission must continue, or if it will end with the general withdrawal of all deployed contingents”, the Minister said. This morning, Guerini shared the content of his call with the Secretary General before the Joint Senate and Chamber of Deputies Defence Committee during his audition on the Defence Multi-year Guidelines 2020/2022.

“The cessation of violence advocated in the Doha Dialogue, and the subject of talks between the US and the Taliban, is far from having been achieved. - Guerini added- All decisions must be assessed based on conditions on the ground “.

From that point of view, it is fundamental that no regression takes place with regard to the results achieved in recent years in terms of increased human rights, women’s condition, access to education: “All that is absolutely necessary to imagine a withdrawal from that reality”.

Another fundamental element is that the Alliance must give a cohesive, unified message to all interlocutors: “Our ability to speak with a single voice is the only element of pressures to foster the achievements advocated in the Doha Dialogue, even in a very difficult and complex environment,”, Guerini added.

Over talks held with NATO Secretary General and with the American partners the Minister received assurances that “the United States intend to maintain an unchanged presence of enabling structures, especially with regard to fixed wing and rotating wing aircraft, as well as the support provided to facilities and assets located outside Afghanistan, for example the US base in Qatar”.

The current national contribution provides for a contingent of maximum 800 military, 145 land vehicles and 8 aircraft, shared by the Italian personnel based in Kabul and the military contingent deployed at Herat TAAC-West.

Italy ensured its support to NATO and the Republic of Afghanistan. Within this context, Herat Train, Advise and Assist Command West(TAAC-West) continues to carry out its training and advise activities in favour of the Institutions and Local Security Forces in the West Sector.