A note released this Wednesday on the official website of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers indicates that the meeting, held at the Chigi Palace, headquarters of the Italian Government, focused the conversation on the preparations for the NATO summit, which will take place in July in the city of Washington, United States.

According to the statement, Meloni reiterated to Stoltenberg the Italian expectation that in that next meeting concrete decisions can be adopted in response to the challenges of the southern flank of the military bloc, in accordance with the approach to Euro-Atlantic security provided for by its strategic concept.

After concluding the meeting, the secretary general of the war alliance stated to the media that “I praised Italy for being a faithful and important ally of NATO, contributing in many different ways to the missions,” and added that it is a contribution “highly appreciated from a key ally.” It was “a good meeting,” said Stoltenberg, and specified that “a wide range of issues currently important to our security” were addressed, all the more relevant given the fact that Italy plays a very important role as president of the Group of Seven “in a critical period”.

At the Washington summit “we will make more decisions to support Ukraine, strengthen our defenses and collaborate more with our partners,” he noted, and praised Italy’s support for that country in the war conflict with Russia, “including the provision of a system of SAMP/T air defense with France.”

He also thanked Meloni for “Italy’s numerous contributions to the Alliance, including leadership of the NATO battle group in Bulgaria and contribution of forces to battle groups in Hungary and Latvia,” as well as for its participation in the Baltic air surveillance program.

He also referred to the Italian participation in the NATO peacekeeping mission (KFOR) in Kosovo and the training that, as part of the Atlantic alliance, it carries out in Iraq.

Finally, according to sources, the Secretary General made reference to the possible sending of military personnel to Ukraine and clarified that the transatlantic war alliance has no intention of deploying forces in that country, and said that during his visit to Kyiv last week, the Ukrainians “They did not ask for NATO troops in Ukraine.”

ef/ro/ort