(Adnkronos) – Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani is taking part in a Nato ministerial meeting in Brussels Wednesday focussed on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, efforts to strengthen the military alliance’s deterrence, defence of its southern flank and on security in the Western Balkans.
“The agenda will include the main issues on the Atlantic agenda, also in view of the Ankara Summit (7-8 July 2026),” said a foreign ministry statement, referring to a meeting of the heads of state and government of Nato member states.
Wednesday’s meeting will also look at “the current phase of the conflict in Ukraine and recent developments in light of US mediation; strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture; revitalising NATO’s efforts to strengthen its Southern Flank,” said the statement, referencing the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Sahel and the Middle East.
Security in the Western Balkans is also on the meeting agenda, the statement added.
It is the first meeting of Nato foreign ministers since the Hague Summit last June, where member states agreed to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, the statement noted.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will take part in a session of Wednesday’s meeting dedicated to the Russia-Ukraine war, where Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha will update participants on progress in the conflict and the negotiating process, according to the statement.
Tajani “will hold a meeting with the Corridor VIII countries, namely Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Albania, to reaffirm Italy’s commitment to relaunching the construction of this strategic infrastructure,” the statement noted.
The minister “will emphasize the positive impact of Corridor VIII on the integration of the Balkans and the rest of Europe in the area of security and military mobility,” said the statement
Tajani is also set to hold “several bilateral meetings to discuss key current international issues” with Nato allies, the statement concluded.
