Safe passage must be ensured for
ships navigating in the Red Sea without opening a new war front,
said Defence Minister Guido Crosetto on the sidelines of a
briefing to the Lower House on the decision to extend military
support to Ukraine on Wednesday.
Responding to a question on why Italy has not formally joined
Prosperity Guardian, the US-led military operation launched in
December to respond to attacks led by Yemeni Houthi rebels on
shipping in the Red Sea, Crosetto said under the Italian
Constitution international missions require parliamentary
approval and separate funding.
"Italian defence is not like British or American defence," he
said.
"If we decide to do it, it will be a decision that will go
through the cabinet, it will be voted on by Parliament, it is
not a personal choice," continued the minister.
Questioned on his intentions, Crosetto replied: "We will see how
(the situation in) the Red Sea evolves. I was the first person
to raise the alarm on the Red Sea, it is a huge problem and it
is a consequence of other hotbeds. I would not like to open a
third war front right now. I would like to achieve safe passage
in the Red Sea without opening an additional front".
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