The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, had a meeting today with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
During the meeting, they reviewed the main UN peacekeeping operations in various crisis theatres and the prospects for adapting UN operations to the complex present and future challenges, a topic that will be the focus of the meeting on UN peacekeeping scheduled to take place in Berlin next May.
Minister Tajani recalled the leading role played by Italy in this area, which sees our country as the largest contributor of troops among Western countries and the seventh largest contributor to the Peacekeeping Operations budget.
Focusing on the situation in Lebanon, Minister Tajani recalled the essential role of the UNIFIL mission in ensuring the stability of the country and the entire region. He expressed his appreciation for the significant contribution provided by UNIFIL troops in the difficult security context of recent months and highlighted the contribution traditionally provided by Italy for this important operation.
Lacroix thanked Italy for making the Brindisi base available, which is strategic for the peacekeeping operations that the UN is ready to support in the coming years.
Lastly, the meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in South Sudan.
