Defense, Crosetto: «The Italian soldiers in Arabia do not participate in war operations»

The presence of Italian soldiers in Saudi Arabia, underlined Defense Minister Guido Crosetto speaking on Thursday 8 September before the Foreign and Defense Committees of the House and Senate on the attack on the Ta'if base in Saudi Arabia, «does not constitute a new mission, but is a consequence of the repositioning of two task forces, forming part of the Inherent Resolve operation, announced and discussed in all the foreseen parliamentary fora. We are talking - explained the head of Defense - of a total force of around 500 soldiers, divided into an air task force and a land task force, operating in an area, Saudi Arabia, mentioned in the analytical report on international missions, sheet number 4-2026 and authorized as parliamentary resolutions". “Italian troops do not participate in any war operations,” he added.

On September 18, during an attack on the Taif base in Saudi Arabia, an Italian fighter on the ground was hit.

Crosetto: «Saudi Arabia asks for our help to defend itself from possible attacks»

«They ask me why in Saudi Arabia - he continued -. First of all because this was the option deemed most appropriate on a technical-operational level by the Defense General Staff. Secondly, because this partner country has asked and continues to ask for our help to defend itself from possible attacks." «It is a fundamental country for supporting the balance of peace in the Middle East, and more generally it is one of the interlocutors with whom we have long initiated forms of support and dialogue - he reiterated - Saudi Arabia is also, in the area, the largest producer of oil, an energy source to which the economic effects are visible for all to see. Regional security and peace, moreover, require constant presence, availability and cooperation, but above all commitment in the most difficult moments." «This country - he continued - continues to ask for help. I am moving to ensure that the request is addressed to Europe. I spoke about it with Kallas (the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the von der Leyen Commission. ed.).

The minister emphasized Italy's commitment to European missions. «This government is often accused of being against a common European defense - he stated -, but I remember that Italy alone contributes 33% to all European missions: we need the second, third and fourth European contributors to equal our contribution in terms of personnel, assets and means». «Greece contributes with 14% - recalled Crosetto -, Spain with 10.8%, Romania with 9%, France with 8.2%, Austria with 5.2%, the Netherlands with 4.3%, Poland with 3.1%, Portugal with 2.6%, Belgium with 1.7%, Germany with 1.6%, Slovakia with 1.3%, Hungary with 1%, all other countries with less than 1%."