Today the Italian Army celebrates its 162nd anniversary. On this occasion, the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, sent the following message to the men and women of the Armed Forces:

Today we are celebrating the 162nd anniversary of your Service, and with it we are celebrating its Arms, its Corps, and its Branches, which have accompanied the history of Italy since before 1861. That year, just before the fateful 17 March, the day on which Italian unity was proclaimed, the National Army was born, the Army to which you all belong.

It was not a coincidence, but a sign that the founding fathers of our Country, among the many emergencies to which they had to respond, chose to give priority to the creation of an institution that, over and above its basic functional value, could give the nation a stronger identity.

This is what the Army has been throughout Italian history: a training ground for being Italian. And we can say, without fear of contradiction, that without it we would not be here as we are.

Today, more than ever, the Army, together with the other services, is the bulwark of our democracy, the guardian of our security, perfectly integrated in a community of rights, such as the European Union, and in an alliance of freedom, such as NATO.

The Army has always been at the forefront to help our fellow citizens in difficulty: from the disastrous floods in Polesine, to the recent earthquakes in central Italy, to the extraordinary contribution of professionalism, generosity, and humanity during the pandemic, which is in the hearts of all Italians.

We are proud of this because the successes of "our" Army, its credibility, the esteem in which it is held, even internationally, are the sign of an organisation made up of people who believe in what they do. And that is why it is respected and valued.

There are no medals to reward what you do every day for Italians, at home and abroad, and for all those who need you.

There are no words to express our gratitude to those who have fallen in the line of duty at all times and in all places, and to our veterans.

There are no tears to soothe the pain of their extraordinary families, to express our closeness and affection. But know that Italians are proud of you, and I for one.

If someone asked me to sum up the characteristics of the Italian Army of 2023 in one sentence, I would say this: “It is an organisation of men and women who love freedom and actively defend it”.

Words that, I am sure, will also apply to the Italian Army of 2030, 2040, 2050 and so on, because if it is true that the Army is being profoundly modernised in its organisation, its capabilities, its technologies and its fields of action, the principles that govern it will never change. First, the principle that is enshrined in its motto: "Salus rei publicae suprema lex esto".

“The salvation of the State shall be the supreme law.” Men and women of the Army today is your day. Be proud to be part of it.

Be proud of yourselves. Long live the Italian Army! Long live the Army! Long live Italy!