Minister Crosetto in Tunis meets with his counterpart Imed Memmich

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Defence Minister Guido Crosetto today, in Tunis, met with his counterpart Imed Memmich, to further increase ongoing bilateral cooperation within the framework of a broader agreement between the Italian and Tunisian governments, announced during President of the Council of Minister’s Giorgia Meloni recent visit to the African country. An agreement was signed during the visit, to conclude the works of the 25th session of the Italy-Tunisia Mixed Committee, which strengthens cooperation in the Defence sector. 

"Our two nations are bound by friendship and respect: thanks to this relationship Tunisia, from the very beginning of the Mattei Plan, has become the focal point and important centerpiece of Italy’s new foreign affairs policy", Minister Crosetto said. He then underscored: "We would like this to be a European, or even international, rather than just Italian approach: a new global vision, which takes into consideration the idea that the world can no longer be divided into rich nations and poor nations: we must make wealth grow all over. This is the only way to stop war, ensure security and dignity for all peoples and avoid repeating the errors of the past, when some nations could think to take advantage of other nations by exploiting them, their land and their peoples. ".

Minister Crosetto then added: “The same approach and respect are mirrored in our cooperation in the Defence sector, an increasingly topical theme due to existing conflicts in neighbouring countries. Education, training, capability building in a number of specific sectors are important tools to effectively meet security requirements in the Mediterranean: this is why we rely on cooperation between Italy and Tunisia”.

The agreement signed by the representatives of the two countries’ Defence Ministries, provides for over 46 joint activities to be implemented by the Italian and Tunisian Armed Forces (26 in Italy, 20 in Tunisia), aimed to promote the exchange of expertise and education in the training, operations and military medicine sectors, as well as exchange of information, including satellite information, and enhancing both countries’ defence capabilities. Moreover, it provides for joint training and exercises, in both Italy and Tunisia, with the participation of the Italian Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri. This partnership is part of a broader International cooperation context, in line with the security and stability objectives promoted at world level.

Minister Crosetto expressed his personal satisfaction with the ongoing cooperation between the two Armed Forces and availability, both personally and at the Defence level, to explore all sectors of possible cooperation and collaboration, for example in the under water domain.

As, for example, is happening in La Spezia, where a NATO Centre of Excellence for the underwater dimension is under construction, next to the Italian Centre. Italy deems that over the next few years the underwater dimension will become as important as the space domain.

The Tunisian Minister expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the ongoing cooperation with Italy, not limited to the bilateral level, but also multilaterally, so useful and important to overcome security as well as economic problems.

Minister Crosetto concluded by underscoring the importance of stability in the Enlarged Mediterranean: "Italy hopes we can cooperate on security in particular in the Sahel and Libya, whose stability is fundamental for the whole area. Moreover, Italy is engaged in Niger, and it’s the only western country accepted there: a useful effort for everybody’s security”.