Italian Defense Minister: NATO Needs to Update Its Role and Strengthen Its Presence in the Mediterranean, and Italy Is an Active Partner in the Defense System

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) needs to redefine its role and strengthen its presence in the Mediterranean region, stressing that NATO military bases in Italy do not serve the United States alone, but operate for the benefit of all member states on an equal footing.

Crosetto made the remarks during his participation in a seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s “Mediterranean and Middle East Group,” held at the Italian Chamber of Deputies on the 10th and 11th of this month.

In his speech, the Italian minister stressed the need to contribute to building a “new NATO” that is more capable of responding to and anticipating crises, forming a fundamental pillar of common security and defense. He pointed to the importance of strengthening the alliance’s southern flank and the Mediterranean region, arguing that European countries cannot continue strategically outside the NATO framework, while the United States remains the only country capable of doing so.

Crosetto also addressed the controversy surrounding NATO bases in Italy following earlier American statements, affirming that these bases are not at the service of any single country, but are part of the alliance’s system and serve all its members equally.

He also rejected criticism regarding Rome’s declining commitment within NATO, stressing that Italy is meeting its military obligations within the collective framework and is working on a gradual increase in defense spending in line with shared understandings.

On the Strait of Hormuz, the Italian minister expressed his country’s readiness to participate in any international mission to secure navigation and clear mines should a truce be reached between the United States and Iran, explaining that Italy is prepared to assume a role within an international coalition to ensure freedom of passage for ships.

He also pointed to the possibility of forming an international coalition outside the United Nations framework if Russia were to use its veto in the Security Council, noting that the agreement of dozens of countries could be sufficient to act in such cases.