Italy has affirmed its role within
NATO and supports the changes currently underway within the
alliance, said Premier Giorgia Meloni at the end of the NATO
summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Wednesday.
However, she told reporters it has also called for more
attention to be given to its southern flank.
"Italy supports NATO's ongoing adjustments as confirmed by the
important contributions made on its eastern flank and in the
Mediterranean," said Meloni.
"We have asserted our role in the Alliance and the attention
that must be given to the eastern flank, but we have also asked
for more attention to be given to the southern flank," she
added.
Meloni also insisted that no one is safe without the unity of
the Atlantic Alliance.
"In this increasingly uncertain world, this summit has succeeded
in reaffirming one of our certainties during this period: that
none of us are safe without the unity of the Atlantic Alliance
and the determination to defend the values and rules of
international law," said the premier.
"Defending the rules of international law is the best way to
defend our citizens," she added.
Meloni also congratulated NATO Secretary-General Jens
Stoltenberg on his "firm and balanced leadership".
"I want to congratulate Secretary Stoltenberg on the extension
of his mandate, which speaks to the exceptional nature of the
moment but also to a firm and balanced leadership," Meloni told
reporters.
On July 4 the the 31-nation military alliance decided to extend
the former Norwegian prime minister's tenure by a further year
until October 1, 2024 as Russia's war of aggression continues to
rage in Ukraine.
On Ukraine, Meloni said "important steps" had been taken for its
future entry into NATO.
"The path to accession has been streamlined," she said, adding
however that it had also been reiterated that Ukraine will join
NATO only "when conditions allow".
The Italian premier told reporters she had had bilateral
meetings on the sidelines of the summit.
Meloni said she had met "with (Turkish President Recep Tayyip)
Erdogan, with whom I talked about the Mediterranean, energy,
migration and peace. I talked with (British Prime Minister
Rishi) Sunak, with (US President Joe) Biden, who invited me to
the White House next July 27".
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