Gcap project, the Defense denies the FT: "Italy never against Germany"

The ministry defined the Financial Times' reconstruction of Italian opposition to Germany's entry into the Gcap, the program to build new generation fighters, as "completely misleading". Rome explained instead that it considers German involvement a positive opportunity.

After the Financial Times reported an indiscretion which claimed that Italy would oppose Germany's entry into the Global Combat Air Program (Gcap) with an equal role, proposing instead to initially admit it only as an observer, our country's Ministry of Defense denied the news in a note, calling it "completely misleading" and assuring that Rome has always supported German participation in the program. The proposal for entry as an observer, explained Guido Crosetto's ministry, would have been put forward precisely to facilitate and accelerate Berlin's involvement, with a view to subsequent full membership.

"Italy has always expressed its full willingness to welcome Germany into the program", specified the ministry. "Indeed, precisely to facilitate and accelerate this process, Italy has proposed that Germany join as an observer, as an immediate tool for sharing information on the program, with a view to subsequent full membership". The proposal, underlines the Defense, "did not intend to limit Germany's future role in the program; on the contrary, it was designed to create the conditions for its involvement as soon as possible, while safeguarding the progress of the program and the established timescales".

This position, continues the ministry note, was reiterated during the last Gcap meeting, held via videoconference with the participation of the three partner countries. On that occasion, Italy supported this approach. For Defense, any news regarding opposition to Germany's participation is therefore "completely unfounded". Italy, he assures, "has demonstrated, with its own actions and proposals, that it considers Germany's involvement a positive opportunity. Our priority remains to ensure that the Gcap proceeds according to the agreed timetable, while creating the conditions for new partners to join it through a clear and effective process. Italy supports, without delay, all the conditions to welcome Germany's participation in the Gcap as soon as possible".