Official visit of Minister Crosetto to Serbia

After concluding his visit to Serbia, Minister Guido Crosetto has arrived in Podgorica for institutional activities with the authorities of Montenegro.

During his official visit to Serbia, Minister Guido Crosetto, together with his Serbian counterpart Bratislav Gašić, inaugurated the historical-photographic exhibition 'Beyond the Sea, Salvation. A Testimony of the Italian-Serbian Friendship,' on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of one of the most significant – and perhaps still little-known – episodes of World War I. Between the end of 1915 and the beginning of 1916, Italy – through its Navy – organized an impressive naval bridge in the Adriatic to assist the Serbian army and population fleeing from the Central Powers' offensive, contributing to the evacuation of over 260,000 people, both civilians and military. This intervention is now considered one of the first major humanitarian military operations in the international context. Following the exhibition, Minister Crosetto, together with Minister Gašić, laid a wreath in honor of the Italian Fallen at the Italian Military Cemetery in Belgrade, and in honor of the Serbian Fallen at the Monument-Ossuary commemorating the 'Defenders of Belgrade' from World War I.

"Valuable meeting with the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, during which we delved into the main aspects of an increasingly complex and interconnected global security context. We had an extensive discussion on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the defense sector, as a concrete tool to build mutual trust and political dialogue. Italy reiterated its full support for Serbia’s EU accession path, believing that Belgrade is an important partner for continental stability and security. Particular attention was given to the major crisis theaters and their impact on the stability of Europe and the Mediterranean, as well as on the balance of the international order. Contemporary threats are increasingly unpredictable, with a high risk of conflict escalation, as demonstrated by the situation in the Middle East. It was emphasized that any destabilization in the Western Balkans or the Middle East would have direct effects on the security of the European continent, energy stability, and global trade flows. Political dialogue, facilitated by defense cooperation, can further strengthen our relations and jointly contribute to regional stability."
This was stated by Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, during his official visit to Serbia.

Minister Guido Crosetto has arrived in Belgrade for an official visit to Serbia, during which he will hold a series of institutional meetings.