ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Availability to contribute to an international mission, but only under certain conditions: Defence Minister Guido Crosetto indicates the Italian line regarding the situation in Hormuz and the crisis in the Middle East. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, the MOD clarifies priority and limits of Italian action. “The new closure of the Strait certainly does not amaze, because Hormuz has become the nerve of this war,” says Crosetto, explaining that “Iran understood that it could not fight, nor win it on its territory and enlarged it to the Gulf countries, to Hormuz and therefore to the rest of the world.”.
The scenario, warns, is destined to protract: “It will be a long, continuous, complicated negotiation.” On the international level, the Minister recognises the complexity of the choices: “If we look at the scenario from the national point of view it was a serious mistake”, referring to attacks against Tehran, but it states that “from the Israeli point of view it is an existential question of survival”.
As for the United States, he observes: “The US believes that Iran is an element of total destabilization of the world”, also in relation to global energy balances and competition with China. Italy, meanwhile, prepares for a possible operational contribution: “I’ve told the Chief of Defense and Navy for 20 days to keep ready with two ships,” says Crosetto, hypothesizes the use of hunters.
However, it places a clear condition: “The end of hostilities is necessary to send them, because no one wants to enter a war.” Only after a truce, in fact, “the international community will have access to Hormuz […] not to be in a war zone”. In any case, the parliamentary passage is fundamental: “The Italian government will pass from the vote of Parliament, which for us is a necessary, mandatory, fundamental step.”.
As regards the role of the United Nations, the minister hopes for a mandate but does not consider it unreliable: “I hope that there will be the egade of the UN, but I will not formalize if there will be 42 nations with a mandate and a multilateral force of peace.” And adds: “I don’t think that, in front of an international mission, Parliament can distinguish itself.”.
On the relationship with Washington and tensions with Donald Trump, Crosetto resizes the contrasts: Italy’s criticism is “an ingenerous and rushed judgment”, destined to return. As for the lack of authorization to use the Sigonella base, it clarifies: “If we said no it was because we could not say yes,” recalling compliance with the rules in force.
The Minister also rejects the hypothesis of a direct involvement of Italy in the conflict: “When Trump asked us to go to war, Italy cannot go to war with anyone, says the Constitution.” Pre-employment is also high for Lebanon and for the security of the Italian quotas: “I am worried about Lebanon and not today.”.
On the Unifil mission, Crosetto claims to have asked “sometimes a change of step and rules”, warning that without interventions “if Unifil failed, the Israeli army would enter. So it was.”.
Now, he concludes, “we will have to think how to replace it”, because “a Lebanon that explodes is yet another problem for the world.” On the internal and economic front, the Minister invites us to avoid simplifications, even on the issue of Russian gas: “It seems that Russia would give us gas, instead the price would be market”.
And, looking at future challenges, emphasizes the need for structural interventions: “We need to cut some threads. It’s Penelope’s canvas. The government does and someone discards.”.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
