Italian Government
IN ROME, THE “E5” FORMAT DEFENCE MINISTERS’ MEETING
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“We are five ministers from five different countries, with different histories, cultures and political views. But today we are united by a shared awareness: we share the same perception of threats, the same strategic vision, and the same determination to build a European Defence. Not to be better than others, but to be more credible—even in the eyes of the United States, which will look at us with greater respect when we demonstrate that we are ready to take on concrete responsibilities.”
With these words, the Italian Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, summed up the spirit of the fourth meeting of the “E5” format, held today in Rome with the participation of the Defence Ministers of France (Sébastien Lecornu), Germany (Boris Pistorius), Poland (Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz), the United Kingdom (John Healey), and representatives from the European Union and NATO.
During the press conference, Minister Crosetto reiterated that it is “essential to conceive European Defence as a project that goes beyond the borders of the Union, embracing the entire continent. The shared priority is to invest in advanced technologies, firmly counter disinformation, and equip ourselves with common tools to face increasingly sophisticated hybrid challenges.”
Answering journalists’ questions, the Minister also stressed that “the ministers’ work will continue in the coming days with the involvement of technical staff, tasked with turning the ideas discussed today into operational actions and concrete proposals.”
The E5 format, born as an informal platform for strategic dialogue among the five main European countries, is increasingly becoming a relevant forum to strengthen political and military cooperation on the continent.
Key priorities that emerged include: continued support for Ukraine, the strengthening of Europe’s industrial and operational capabilities, and the shared goal of achieving greater European strategic autonomy, in full synergy with NATO and the European Union.
The Rome summit follows previous meetings held in Berlin (November 2024), Warsaw (January 2025), and Paris (March 2025), confirming the political will of the five countries to consolidate a common path toward a more cohesive, effective and credible European Defence.
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