Foreign Ministers Antonio Tajani and Guido Crosetto participated today in the “2+2” (Foreign Affairs and Defense) Ministerial consultations between Italy and the United Kingdom. Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper and Defence Minister John Healey were present on the British side.
The agenda included a joint session between the four Ministers, focusing on security and countering hybrid threats; the latest developments in Ukraine and the Middle East (Gaza, the post-UNIFIL situation in Lebanon and Iran), and the situation in the Western Balkans. Regarding the Ukrainian crisis, the Ministers reaffirmed their support for the Ukrainian people, emphasizing the importance of the European and NATO contribution and, at the same time, the need for a central role for the United Nations, and reaffirming the need to reach a solution to the conflict as soon as possible. Regarding the Middle East, the need for the adoption of a Security Council resolution promoting a peace plan and giving the United Nations a decisive role in managing the Gaza Strip emerged.
Foreign Minister Tajani stated “New global challenges require joint responses. Cooperation between Italy and the United Kingdom is crucial to protecting infrastructure, citizens, and international stability, in a context marked by the conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. For Italy, the stability of the Western Balkans and their accession to the EU are a strategic objective. Only through close coordination can we strengthen European resilience.”
Defence Minister Crosetto said: “The hybrid threat is not made up of isolated incidents, but of a strategy aimed at attacking infrastructure, public opinion, the economy, and social cohesion. Italy is working on an initiative that we hope will be shared by all European countries.” With specific reference to the Western Balkans, he added: “For Italy, they are a strategic area on the path to security and stability.”
