“NATO and Europe are complementary, we need a strong Alliance militarily and politically”. “The strengthening of the EU defense also serves a stronger Alliance”. This was stated by President Sergio Mattarella on a visit to NATO’s JFC Naples Command for the seventieth anniversary of the presence of the Atlantic Alliance in Italy. Also present were NATO Deputy Secretary Mircea Geoana, Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini, Admiral Robert Burke, commander of the allied Joint Force Command in Naples.
The results achieved by NATO “are evident and extraordinary,” said Mattarella, “first of all the 70 years of peace on the European continent. The Atlantic Alliance represents for Italy a cornerstone in coordination with the EU which contributes to stability. I am convinced that the strengthening of the European Union in this field (Defense and security ed) based on complementarity with NATO and the sharing of military resources will provide a valuable and qualified contribution to the process of strengthening the Alliance for the stability of the indispensable transatlantic relationship ” .
Mattarella then recalled Italy’s “important” commitment to evacuate Afghanistan. “What happened recently in Afghanistan has deeply shaken the international community and makes it clear how important the reflection taking place in NATO is and that it must lead to the new strategic concept expected for the next Summit in Madrid, for a militarily strong alliance and, at the at the same time, politically increasingly effective in pursuing a policy of peace and the affirmation of human rights ”.
“This command – said the president referring to Naples – accompanied Italy in its presence in the Alliance. It is a cornerstone of collective defense on the southern flank of the Alliance. A confirmation of NATO’s ability to evolve and take a new look at new challenges. The importance of the principles of the Covenant, freedom, respect and mutual understanding between peoples and respect for different cultures is increasingly evident. The results are evident and extraordinary: first of all the 70 years of peace on the European continent ”. And in this regard, the head of state also addressed this invitation: “In the redetermination of the strategic concept of NATO, a careful and balanced definition of the commitments relating to the South flank cannot be missing”.
Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini underlined that «today more than ever it is necessary to make a leap in political quality and think about European Defense in order to strengthen the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance. The ambition to which we must strive is to shape a new defense and security architecture, centered on the effective and complementary collaboration between a more modern NATO and a stronger European Union ». «For over 70 years NATO has represented the umbrella of deterrence and dissuasion that protects Europe. Today a strong, united and courageous Europe is needed for a more efficient NATO ».