Ministero della Difesa Test

​"Security, freedom and human rights are not acquired once and for all: we must defend these assets day by day, also from external threats. In Madrid, with the new Strategic Concept, we have made historical decisions which will secure our collective defence for the years to come", Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini said in his comment on the outcomes of the Madrid NATO Summit, which saw the endorsement of the new Strategic Concept. The planning document updated the previous one, adopted in Lisbon in 2010, and will define the new direction of the Alliance defence policy for the present and next future. The themes discussed included the continued support to Ukraine with the adoption of a new assistance package, as well as the strengthening of NATO's defence and deterrence posture.

Within this framework, the adaptation of the US military presence in Europe was also announced: as regards Italy, this will entail the deployment – once the envisaged endorsement procedures are finalized- of additional 65 personnel and a short range air defence battery, aimed to allow the rotation of similar batteries already deployed on the Eastern flank.  

The focus of the Summit was the accession of Finland and Sweden: the signing of a memorandum between the two northern European countries and Turkey marked a crucial first step in this direction.

"This Summit marks a historic moment – Guerini added- a moment of transformation. Evolving without losing our identity, adapting to the changing times: these are the success secrets of a defence organization which, over 73 years, has been able to renew itself while maintaining its core mission: defending its members from external threats, without being a threat for others".

"I am especially glad - the minister continued- as this Summit testified to the strong cohesion among Allies, also reaffirmed by our renewed common commitment to support Ukraine in its resistance and fight for its own rights, and for the crucial step made toward Finland and Sweden accession to the Alliance".

The Defence Minister also underscored the importance assigned by the Alliance to the so-called Southern flank, i.e. the focus of today's session of the North Atlantic Council, attended by Minister Guerini on behalf of the President of the Council of Ministers.  

"The declaration of the heads of State and Government that opened this Summit – Guerini said- explicitly referred to a NATO at 360°. Today we have discussed the Southern flank, i.e. the Mediterranean and nearby areas; support to stability in Africa and the importance to ensure a preventative action, also looking to the future,  against insidious phenomena, such as terrorism. Over the last two days we have also discussed the security repercussions of climate change, as well as complex scenarios whose effects we must be able to govern. These are fundamental aspects for the future of all of us, in line with Italy's hopes anticipated in the recent Directive on a Strategy for the Mediterranean    (direttiva sulla Strategia per il Mediterraneo)".

The Madrid two-day Summit was also an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings. Yesterday Lorenzo Guerini met with his counterparts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sifet Podžić, and the United Kingdom, Ben Wallace, and attended an informal Defence ministers' meeting on the Balkans.

In this regard, Guerini reiterated to Minister Podžić (quote):" Italy's strong support for the Balkans' integration in the European Union and NATO, of great importance for stability and development in the region". Moreover, the two ministers discussed the significance of the Italian engagement in security and stability mission EUFOR Althea.

Subsequently, Guerini expressed the "persistent and determined" willingness to work together to his British counterpart, Ben Wallace, underscoring that the "common strategic vision shared by Italy and the United Kingdom is also an opening for expanding their cooperation in the sector of industry, with important developments starting from the aeronautic sector".  Today, there was another important outcome from the Summit: the signing of the "NATO Innovation Fund", which marks the centrality of technological progress on the path of cooperation among Allies and in securing a collective defence capacity always fit for purpose.