Minister Crosetto in Berlin for the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial and Strategic Bilateral Meetings

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Defence Minister Guido Crosetto attended the first session of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin today, in the presence of a number of Defence Ministers and top-level representatives of Member Countries. The event was a crucial moment in the discussion on the future of peacekeeping operations in the main areas of crisis, in light of new global challenges.

During the event the minister met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

“We have shared our strong concern for the main areas of crisis, including Gaza and the Sahel, and the importance of having effective tools to contain such conflicts. Italy, the first Western country and one of the first in general for his troop contributions to the UN peacekeeping missions, advocates a more decisive, relevant role for the UN in international crises, with a balanced approach to current critical situations and ongoing crises. The Secretary General, who shares our vision on the role of peacekeeping, expressed great appreciation for the work of our military. On Ukraine, the need remains to guarantee compliance with international law. Italy’s commitment remains unchanged, also in term of financial resources, to increase security, stability and the credibility of UN Missions”.

In the margins of the Ministerial Meeting Minister Crosetto held relevant talks with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Jun Dong.

“China is a protagonist in the international community, and it plays a significant role in the global stability and security dynamics. Productive dialogue on our willingness to explore new possible cooperation in peacekeeping missions. The Indo-Pacific, now more than ever, is a crucial area with in the global geopolitical context: tensions emerging in that region reverberate in the Wider Mediterranean, a priority interest area for our national strategy”.

Minister Crosetto also met with his Malaysian colleague, Dato’ Seri Haji Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin. Cooperation in the defence, cyber security and aerospace sector was the focus of the meeting. Minister To the Defence Minister of Mauritania, Hanan Oul Sidi, Minister Crosetto ensured that a Military Attaché will be dispatched in Mauritania within the Piano Mattei framework. Crosetto also met with the Defence Minister of Kazakhstan, Gen. Ruslan Zhaksylykov, deepening new cooperation opportunities for security in Central Asia.

Finally, the minister met with his counterpart from Germany, Boris Pistorius, and the Philippines, Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr., and Switzerland Head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, Martin Pfister.