Minister Crosetto Meets Italian Military Personnel in Lithuania

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“You here represent in concrete terms what it means to be part of an Alliance.

You are thousands of kilometres from home, training alongside other nations as if you were a single contingent and helping to build the defence of the borders not of another nation, but of the Alliance that has guaranteed us more than 70 years of peace and security. And this is because NATO’s security concerns us all.

We live in an era in which international balances are changing rapidly, making it increasingly difficult to predict what may happen. For this reason, your task is also to demonstrate, every day, the tangible value of the Italian Armed Forces.

What you did yesterday is proof of this: being ready to intervene, with our assets and your professionalism, to defend this country and Allied airspace. The fact that today Lithuania’s Minister of Defence, Robertas Kaunas, wanted to accompany me to meet you and thank you is a significant gesture, which provides tangible testimony to the importance of the work you are carrying out.

But you also have another fundamental task: to train, to develop your skills, and to understand on the ground what is more difficult to perceive from afar. Because geographical distance also changes the perception of risk.

You have sworn to serve your country, and I feel it is my duty to serve you, because I swore allegiance to the Constitution and, for as long as I have the honour of serving as Minister of Defence, I will continue to consider this my duty.

I want you to know that I recognise the value of your work, including the work that goes unseen.

And I want you to be fully aware of the contribution you make to the Republic.

Without Armed Forces, a nation is not fully capable of defending its freedom, its security and its future.

You represent all of this. For this reason, quite simply, I thank you.”

Minister Guido Crosetto said this at Šiauliai Air Base, where he met Italian military personnel from the Task Force Air “Baltic Thunder III”, during his visit to Lithuania.