ROME (ITALPRESS) – Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte today at Palazzo Chigi. “At the center of the meeting,” reads a note from Palazzo Chigi, “was the role of the Atlantic Alliance as an indispensable pillar for common security in the face of multiple areas of instability, as well as Italy’s leading contribution to Euro-Atlantic defense at 360 degrees. Also discussed was support for the legitimate defense of Ukraine, the strengthening of the European pillar of the Alliance also in favor of an increasingly innovative and competitive defense industry, as well as the necessary adaptation of NATO to new security challenges. Also shared was the strategic need for the full implementation of the new approach to the southern flank decided at the Washington summit. “Italy is a leading country for the quality and quantity of its action, as well as the first contributor in absolute terms in NATO for the missions of the Atlantic alliance,” Meloni stressed during statements to the press after the meeting.”I wish Mark Rutte the best of luck and congratulations on behalf of the Italian government for his new role as NATO secretary general,” Meloni began. “A position of extreme responsibility, at a time when everything is being called into question by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, with destabilizing effects far beyond the borders within which it is being waged. A situation of instability that has opened many new fronts and that requires us to know how to modulate our action in a different way. “For Meloni, “it is necessary for NATO to be increasingly capable of evolving in order to live up to a time that is changing around us.””The North American pillar of NATO must be flanked by a European pillar, in a vision shared with the new secretary general,” the premier continued. “It is also essential to work on a European defense industry that is innovative and competitive, taking advantage of the complementarity between NATO and the European Union. Therefore, it is fundamental to ensure international collaboration, both in Europe and with our North American allies. “Strengthening defense is a NATO priority, in addition to that related to industrial capacity, I announce with favor the 8.2 billion euros that Italy will invest in renewing the instrumentation of its armed forces. Italy is a historic, strong ally that contributes in so many ways to Atlantic security,” Secretary General Rutte said. I want to thank Prime Minister Meloni for her great support for Ukraine. The priority of this alliance is to strengthen our defense, to keep our billion people safe, a NATO duty. We are strengthening our industrial capacity, producing more ships, missiles and projectiles.”
– Photo screenshot from video Palazzo Chigi –
(ITALPRESS).
