Defence Ministry: Minister Crosetto meets with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană

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Defence Minister Guido Crosetto met with the Atlantic Alliance Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană in Rome, this afternoon, in the margins of the meeting for the celebration of NATO’s 75th Anniversary. Talks focused on events in Ukraine, the Middle East and Southern Flank.

During the meeting Minister Crosetto underscored NATO’s importance at this critical time, due to the presence of international crises and conflicts and the risk of spreading and further worsening on the global scenario. Within this context, NATO is of fundamental importance to give stability and guarantee international peace and security. Solidarity and cohesion remain the centre of gravity for the Alliance, in an international context characterized by an arc of crisis stretching from the Eastern border, across the Middle East  to the Southern Flank, where peace and security can no longer be given for granted.

Minister Crosetto and Deputy Secretary General Geoană also discussed Ukraine, the last developments in the Middle East crisis and the importance of a united, cohesive NATO, able to talk to all countries to foster and facilitate moderation and stability. They fully converged also on the importance of achieving a truce, the release of  Israeli hostages and humanitarian support for the Palestinian population, the innocent victim of a conflict triggered by Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack.

Then, the Deputy Secretary General thanked the Minister for the contribution Italy provides to the Alliance. As for Minister Crosetto, while confirming Italy’s Atlantic vocation, he underscored the willingness to achieve the 2% threshold, even if Italy’s Armed Forces sizeable participation in international missions (especially as regards training and educational activities conducted in favour of foreign Armed Forces) is in itself a fundamental element for international peacekeeping and security.