Minister Crosetto’s Official Visit to Latvia

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“Have you ever wondered why, in so many parts of the world, the presence of our military personnel is requested?

Because the Italian uniform is not perceived as a threat, but as a source of help, protection and defence.

It is this ability to combine strength with humanity that our military personnel have succeeded in conveying around the world. It is a legacy of Italy, built by thousands of men and women like you and by those who served before you.

It is also thanks to this legacy that Italy is respected and that I, as Minister of Defence, can rely on credibility built every day by you and your colleagues.

For this reason, we must continue to prepare, to train, to become ever more professional and capable. We must be able to evolve alongside changing scenarios, continuously adapting our training, capabilities and tools, so that we are ready to face not the challenges of today, but those of tomorrow.

We live in a complicated world and we must continue to do our part: to increase the security of our country while, at the same time, working to prevent crises from worsening and conflicts from spreading.

And it is precisely thanks to the credibility that you have enabled us to bring to international forums that I am trying to build a new vision for Europe: not only the Europe of the 27 European Union countries, but Europe in its continental dimension, united around a collective defence pact.

Because the more united we are, the stronger our deterrence capabilities become, the more we reduce the risk of war and the more we strengthen NATO’s European pillar.

This is how I would like to leave my position: having tried to build something more to ensure your security and that of our country.

I wanted to share this with you because I believe that a Minister must be accountable to the institutions, but above all to the women and men who work every day to defend our country and who, like him, have sworn to serve it.

That is why I am here: to thank you for what you do every day.”

Minister Guido Crosetto said this in Latvia, at Ādaži Military Base, where he met Army personnel engaged in Operation “Baltic Guardian”.