"Italian soldiers are not sent as faxes": Crosetto, a shot against Starmer and Macron

In this delicate phase of negotiations for a possible truce between Russia and Ukraine , there are two figures who are attempting to rush ahead without any authorization from their European allies: we are talking about the French President, Emmanuel Macron , and the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. For days, they have been working hard to finally launch the project of sending troops to Kiev in the context of a peace mission.

And to put things back in their place, at least as far as our country's position is concerned, is the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto : "I notice that now everyone, even at the bar, talks about defense. Often without knowing in depth the issues being discussed. For information, Defense, in European treaties, is the responsibility of individual nations. A 'European defense' can only exist as the sum of national defenses. With methods similar to those of NATO. Just as NATO does not have its own Army, Navy, or Air Force but is based on national contributions that operate together and are coordinated by NATO, the same would be true for Europe. Let's then come to the 'European contingents' that would like to send the President of a community nation and that of a non-community nation. Contingents are not sent like you send a fax and in order to make a press release. Especially those of other nations. If you speak on behalf of Europe, you should have the decency to discuss with other nations and this has not happened for the military aspects of the issue. Which I understand to be mainly military". Words that are all too clear. "So commenting on something that no one knows anything about except two foreign Presidents and that, as far as Italy is concerned, like any international commitment, should have parliamentary steps, multiple and complex, to authorize and finance, does not seem to me to be a useful way to engage the internal political debate. Parliamentary steps that would also be subsequent to having carefully and scrupulously verified all the technical-logistical-operational-capacity aspects and the consequent need for financial resources. A small contribution to better direct the debate", added Crosetto.

"For two years - adds Crosetto - I have repeatedly asked for a bipartisan parliamentary commitment to review the law that regulates the sending of international missions and its mechanisms. For just as many years, I have been a voice declaiming in the wilderness. In the meantime, however, I read statements made only to fill the agencies with people who want to explain to me that everything can be done immediately. Unfortunately, even if we wanted to, it cannot be done. Because there is a Constitution and a legislative system that do not allow for alternative and faster ways. A topic on which I am trying to ask for the umpteenth time for a bipartisan intervention that would be very important to ensure that Italy has a Defense that is more ready to face the difficult times in which we live".