Minister Crosetto at the Festa dell’Ottimismo (Festival of Optimism)

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“The security of a nation cannot be built on weapons alone. It is built on jobs, the economy, technology, education, healthcare and social cohesion.

Defence is one of the pillars of this security. An essential one, but not the only one.

Supporting Ukraine means defending international law and the principle that no nation can impose its will on another by force. A principle that should unite us, regardless of our political affiliations.

Likewise, the need to build a genuine, continent-wide European defence should unite us.

We live in a world where threats evolve faster than our ability to address them. We must invest in new technologies, air defence and cybersecurity. But above all, we must once again strengthen diplomacy and international institutions.

Because no one understands the cost of war better than those who work in defence, and no one is more committed to preventing it.

Preparing to defend peace does not mean wanting war. It means doing everything possible to prevent it from happening.”

These were the words of Italy’s Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, on the occasion of the 2026 Festa dell’Ottimismo (Festival of Optimism).