Italian Government
Official Visit of Minister Crosetto to the United States
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During his official visit to the United States, Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
“An important meeting with Pete Hegseth, during which we reaffirmed the strength of the relationship between Italy and the United States—a political and strategic partnership rooted in a shared history and a common commitment to international security in a rapidly evolving world.
When NATO was founded, the centre of gravity of the world was the Atlantic. Today, global dynamics are increasingly shifting towards the Indo-Pacific, where many of the major economic, technological and security challenges are concentrated. For this reason, the Alliance must be able to look beyond its traditional boundaries while remaining faithful to its mission of ensuring freedom, security and stability.
A stronger Europe alongside the United States, assuming greater responsibility for its own security, enhances NATO’s credibility and effectiveness and represents a turning point for the future of the continent.
I would like to thank Secretary Hegseth, who was accompanied today by the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Christopher J. Mahoney, for their words of appreciation for Italy as an Ally. Our country will continue to do its part, with seriousness and tangible capabilities, in operational theatres, on NATO’s Eastern and Southern flanks, particularly in the Wider Mediterranean region and beyond. I also welcome the shared commitment expressed today to further strengthen cooperation in the defence industry sector,” said Minister Guido Crosetto.
Subsequently, the Minister met with the newly appointed United States Under Secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao.
I had a very constructive and substantive discussion with the newly appointed United States Under Secretary of the Navy, Hung Cao. We reaffirmed the strength of the relationship between Italy and the United States in the maritime domain and our shared commitment to further strengthening a partnership that represents a cornerstone of the Atlantic Alliance’s security.
Interoperability between our naval forces is a force multiplier: training together enhances operational capabilities, maximizes the effectiveness of our weapon systems, and ensures an increasingly timely response to the challenges of the maritime domain.
We also highlighted the significant opportunities for development in the naval shipbuilding sector, both in surface and underwater platforms. Italy and the United States possess complementary industrial and technological capabilities that can mutually strengthen their respective capacities and consolidate a strategic supply chain that is essential to the Alliance’s security and deterrence,” said Minister Guido Crosetto.
