Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated Italy’s commitment to supporting Ukraine with soldiers and weapons in addition to supporting Kyiv’s bid for NATO membership as soon as conditions allow, she said during the NATO summit in Vilnius on Wednesday.
Meloni “vindicated” Italy’s role in the Atlantic Alliance and took a stand for a “just peace” in Ukraine.
She spoke of an “exceptional historical moment” – marked by the war in Ukraine, invaded by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Russian troops – and congratulated the allies on the achievements made during the two-day summit.
“Italy supports the ongoing adjustments, with the contributions it makes in the Mediterranean and on the eastern flank”, Meloni said during the closing press conference, emphasising that Italy is the “main contributor” to NATO missions abroad, with almost three thousand troops.
The Italian prime minister spoke out again in favour of Ukraine and of a “negotiation project” leading to a “just and lasting” peace, which does not include the surrender of the Ukrainians and the ceding of invaded territories.
“We are determined in the defence of international law”, Meloni pointed out, reiterating Italy’s support for Kyiv’s entry into Nato but only when “conditions allow” it.
Meloni also pledged – as on other occasions – to spend 2% of Italy’s GDP on defence, as required of all NATO allies. A commitment that Defence Minister Guido Crosetto described as difficult to achieve due to Italy’s high public debt.
“Our freedom has a cost. What we invest in defence comes back tenfold in terms of the defence of our national interests”, the premier explained, responding to those who criticise her stance on Kyiv and, in particular, on the military expenditure that, according to many, foments the ongoing war.
In addition to the eastern front, Meloni called on NATO allies to pay “more attention” to the Alliance’s southern flank, given that in a world “where everything is interconnected”, one cannot forget Africa, where the consequences of the Ukrainian conflict create instability that inevitably also affects European countries, and Italy in particular through irregular migration flows.
(Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it)
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