Ministero della Difesa Test

​"A historical friendship exists between Italy and the United States. This is a further reason why I was very pleased to see that the Madrid Summit has been a success in terms of cohesion among Allies; those who wanted less NATO now have a stronger NATO", Minister Guerini said during his bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, yesterday at the Pentagon. 

The long, fruitful meeting started with an exchange of views on the outcomes of the Madrid Summit and the concurrent endorsement of NATO new Strategic Concept. As regards the latter, Minister Guerini expressed his appreciation for attention paid by the United States to the Southern flank of the Alliance, which coincides with the Mediterranean and neighboring areas.

The meeting also focused on the Enlarged Mediterranean, an area affected by tensions originated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Two major instability factors, the echoes of the Russian aggression and the consequences of its aggressive posture reverberate on this sea, that is a hinge between continents and a critical hub for economic and commercial flows of global interest", Minister Guerini said. Subsequently he added: "Italy, who advocated the 360 degree approach endorsed by the Madrid Summit, is consolidating its role as a reference point in that area, to defend our relevant common security interests".

Moreover, the Minister of Defence recalled that the Mediterranean was the focus of a recent ministerial directive, A Strategy for the Mediterranean, aimed to guide the Italian Armed Forces planning and its employment in that area.   

Then, talks focused on specific regional situations at the center of the Italian operational activities, such as Niger and, more broadly, the Sahel. "Terrorism and the presence of mercenary groups such as Wagner are a concrete risk to global security", the Minister said.

Guerini and Austin also discussed Libya. In that regard, Guerini expressed his hope for a concerted support that may foster the strengthening of political, economic and security institutions. As for Iraq, where Italy has just resumed command of the NATO training mission (NMI) aimed at supporting the local Security Forces, Guerini said that task is of "strategic interest for its reverberations on Euro-Atlantic security, in particular on the Southern flank".

The Minister, accompanied by Italy's Ambassador to the United States Mariangela Zappia, also expressed his appreciation for the relevant contribution of the US to NATO's deterrence capacity in Europe, as well as for its leadership of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, dedicated to coordinating assistance for Ukraine, an activity defined as an "inspiration for all Partners". Guerini has also underscored:"Support provided to the Ukrainian institutions and people following the unjustified Russian aggression is a commitment towards the founding values of our democracies".

Finally, Minister Guerini and Secretary Austin discussed bilateral cooperation in the industrial sector, aimed to make the respective Defenses evermore integrated, while maintaining a technological edge. Guerini highlighted the reliability and competitiveness of the Italian defence industry, hoping that further synergies will develop "in a field where the friendship between Italy and the USA is a stronghold".

For Minister Guerini the visit to the US was also an opportunity to meet with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Undersecretary General and Head of the Peacekeeping Operation Department (DPO). Guerini and Lacroix have taken stock of the Italian contributions to UN missions, in particular UNIFIL (Lebanon), "fundamental for stability in that country", and the Sahel, as well as the reverberations of the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Minister Guerini's four-day USA visit also allowed visiting the plants of some prestigious Defense manufacturers such as  Sikorsky Aircraft in West Palm Beach, Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth as well as Bell Helicopters, also in Fort Worth, in view of further important cooperation with the Italian industry.

In Houston, Texas, the Minister visited Axiom Space, an aerospace design and technological company, where he met with Italian astronaut Walter Villadei, who is undergoing training in view of a space mission in 2023.