Aircraft carrier Cavour in Singapore, Fabio Cannavaro on board

(ANSA) - ROMA, 19 SET - The aircraft carrier Cavour and the frigate Alpino, part of the Italian Carrier Strike Group, after a visit to Indonesia, arrived in Singapore, a stopover within the five-month operational campaign in the Indo-Pacific region. For the occasion, Italy's Ambassador to Singapore, Dante Brandi, and the Commander of the Italian Carrier Strike Group, Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina, hosted on board the Cavour, among others, Rear Admiral Augustine Lim, Chief of Naval Operations of the Singaporean Navy, Lieutenant Admiral Andrea Gueglio, Director of the Italian Navy's Directorate for Military Personnel, and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Singapore.
    In his welcome address, Ambassador Brandi emphasised that the Carrier Strike Group ships are a valuable tool for promoting Italy's presence and capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The stop in Singapore highlights the crucial role of the City-State as a strategic partner for Italy in South-East Asia, with a particular focus on scientific innovation and the development of advanced technological solutions. For her part, the European Union's ambassador to Singapore, Iwona Piorko, reiterated the EU's commitment to maritime security, emphasising the importance of the European strategy for the Indo-Pacific.
    Also boarding the aircraft carrier Cavour was Fabio Cannavaro, Ballon d'Or and world champion, in Singapore to attend Token2049, one of the world's largest conferences dedicated to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Cannavaro, accompanied by Michele Ciccarese, Commercial and Marketing Director of Serie A, after meeting Ambassador Brandi at the embassy, was the guest of Admiral Giancarlo Ciappina and Vice-Admiral Andrea Gueglio aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour. Cannavaro met the crew, emphasising the importance of their work in representing Italy in the world.