• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
Italy "is not at war" in the Red Sea, stated Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, as he urged the European Union (EU) to strengthen its naval mission to protect commercial navigation in this strategic passage.
"No, we are not at war," Tajani told the newspaper Corriere della Sera when asked about a recent attack involving a transalpine fighter jet and following statements from the Houthis claiming not to be in armed conflict with Rome.
Tajani's comments come after a Houthi attack on the Taif airbase in Saudi Arabia, which reportedly damaged an Italian F-2000 (Eurofighter) aircraft on the ground.
Tajani noted that the European mission Aspides was created as a defensive operation to protect merchant vessels transiting the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb from potential Houthi attacks.
He assured that Italy will continue to support the mission "given the worsening situation in the strait" and called on the EU to renew and strengthen it.
"We have a strong strategic interest: 40% of all Italy's commercial maritime traffic and 60% of the goods we export to Asia pass through the Red Sea," Tajani affirmed.
Saudi Arabia has faced a series of missile and drone attacks in recent days attributed to the Houthis amidst rising regional tensions, as the group now controls access to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
"For several months, Italy has been urging other countries to contribute to the mission," the Italian authority indicated.
"I will do so again next week in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly," he declared.
Tajani stated that European countries should provide additional naval units or contribute to the mission's costs. "Aspides must absolutely continue and be strengthened," he noted.
Tajani is scheduled to address the mission at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, as well as at the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting and a meeting of the Rome Coalition for Food Security during the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Italian authority indicated that the coalition, promoted by Italy and Croatia, will also discuss freedom and security of navigation.
Tajani also noted that he will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with whom he plans to sign an agreement on raw materials aimed at ensuring supply. The agreement will include the "Pax Silica" initiative on critical minerals such as rare earths.
Regarding the conflict in Iran, Tajani affirmed that Italy does not support it and stands for peace. "A conflict we do not share and where we support peace," he maintained.
The Italian authority added that he will meet with the Iranian Foreign Minister in New York despite Italy's critical stance towards Tehran, particularly regarding its nuclear program.
Tajani also backed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to make Canada an associated country of the EU, stating that Canada is a strategic partner of Europe and a member of NATO and the G7.
He concluded by noting that his speech to the UN General Assembly will focus on cybersecurity, hybrid threats, and artificial intelligence.