Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani concluded a mission to attend the NATO Summit, alongside Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. The Summit focused on strengthening Euro-Atlantic security and adapting the Alliance to new strategic challenges. Key items on the agenda included strengthening the Allies’ contribution to collective deterrence and defence, including by reviewing the implementation of commitments made regarding defence investment and the strengthening of the transatlantic defence industry, as well as support for Ukraine and key international security issues, with particular focus on the Middle East and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Minister Tajani participated, on July 7, in the ministerial meeting with the partners of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar), whose participation in the Summit was strongly supported by Italy. The dialogue with the Gulf states focused on developments in the Middle East, with particular attention to Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and the Strait of Hormuz. Italy reiterated that the wider Mediterranean and the Gulf constitute a strategic security area whose instability has a direct impact on the Euro-Atlantic region and confirmed its commitment to safeguarding security and freedom of navigation.
The Minister also took part in the E5 ministerial meeting (France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom), co-organised by Italy and Poland, which was also attended by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan. The meeting aimed to strengthen coordination on key European security issues, with particular attention to Ukraine and the Middle East. Italy reiterated the need for a unified approach to the challenges affecting NATO’s southern flank, emphasising that the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz confirms the strategic importance of the wider Mediterranean for Euro-Atlantic security.
Tajani also participated in the working dinner of the NATO-Ukraine Council at Foreign Ministers level, attended by his Ukrainian counterpart Sybiha and the EU High Representative Kallas, which focused on the latest developments in the conflict and the coordination of allied assistance. Italy reaffirmed its support for Ukraine – which it has guaranteed since the start of the Russian aggression, both bilaterally and multilaterally – and for Kyiv’s path towards accession to the European Union in accordance with the enlargement process.
Finally, on 8 July, Minister Tajani stood alongside Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, together with Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, at the North Atlantic Council meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government.
