“President Mattarella’s words are a call for unity, responsibility, and peace.”

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“The end-of-year message of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, represents an indispensable point of reference for the country at a historical moment marked by extraordinary complexity. From the very first words, recalling how a difficult year is coming to an end and how our foremost hope is directed toward peace, the President offered a clear-sighted and profound reflection on the condition of our time.
The images of the bombardments of Ukrainian cities, of destroyed homes, of energy plants struck in order to leave entire populations freezing in the winter cold; the devastation of Gaza, where even newborns die from exposure, make the longing for peace even stronger and render ever more incomprehensible and repugnant the refusal of those who deny it because they feel stronger. Peace, as the Head of State reminded us, is first and foremost a way of thinking: a way of living together with others by respecting them, without imposing one’s own will, interests, or dominance.”

Thus stated the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, commenting on President Mattarella’s end-of-year address.

“The President’s words call us to responsibility, coherence, and the urgency of a shared commitment: this is not a time for fragmentation, but for convergence. This makes even more evident the need for a credible common defence, capable of ensuring security, deterrence, and operational readiness, in full respect of international law. The President recalled how Europe and transatlantic relations—from the Treaties of Rome of 1957 to the Marshall Plan—represent the two pillars of reconstruction and the fundamental coordinates of our international action.”

Crosetto then explicitly recalled the words of the Head of State:

“Italy is today a major actor on the international stage also thanks to the contribution that our military personnel have made and continue to make to the building of security and peace. It is a path that has also entailed high costs, beginning with the sacrifice of our airmen in Kindu, in the Congo, in 1961.”

The Minister then added:

“I fully share this recognition. The Defence establishment and the Italian Armed Forces play a crucial role: at home and in international crisis theatres they represent a fundamental pillar of global stability. Every day, with presence, expertise, and dedication, they help make concrete the values of freedom, democracy, and solidarity recalled by the President of the Republic.
I wish to express my most sincere gratitude and closeness to the women and men who, even during these holidays, are far from their loved ones in order to serve the country. It is thanks to their commitment that all of us can live these days in safety and serenity: what we consider ‘normal’—open schools, functioning hospitals, reliable infrastructure, essential services—rests on a modern, efficient, and highly qualified defence system.”

Crosetto concluded:

“I thank President Mattarella for his high moral authority and for his constant attention to the Armed Forces. His words invite us to look to the future with greater responsibility and confidence. Republican Italy is a success story in the world: we can and must be proud of it. My wish for 2026 is that the steps taken toward a just and lasting peace may be consolidated, founded on the primacy of law over force and on the values that constitute the essence of our national and European identity: freedom, democracy, and solidarity. To all the women and men of Defence, I extend my heartfelt wishes for a year of peace, confidence, and responsibility.”