Crosetto: 'Radar in the Balkans to also defend Italy'

"We take back command with General Vergori, we do it with a commitment that will continue even when KFOR decreases its commitment in Kosovo, because for us the Balkans represent a point of reference for our security. Securing the Balkans, using the Balkans also in the future by thinking of installing radars here that will allow us to defend both these countries and our country to prevent threats is a fundamental thing". Thus the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, on the sidelines of the ceremony in Pristina on the change of command of the KFOR mission.

"If you consider that the missiles that hit the airports in Saudi Arabia were built by the Houthis, therefore not by refined engineers, and reached a speed of 8,500 kilometers per hour, you understand what threats all countries face for the future and how important it is to also guard the border countries, the friendly countries, precisely to install with them coverage from these threats that can prevent them in the future", added Crosetto.

Regarding the risks of Iranian and Russian influences in the Balkans, "the concerns have not increased in this period, they are those that have existed in recent years - continued Minister Crosetto -. It is the reason why we have always been committed to this area of ​​the Balkans, because the first thing for us is to guarantee security, meanwhile within our home borders".