(Adnkronos) – European nations “have all decided to spend more” on defence and security, which also means strengthening Nato’s ‘European pillar’ and becoming “equal partners” of the United States, Italy said on Friday.
“In a changing world, where so many dangers abound, we cannot fail to think about a more efficient and effective defence and security system,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani told an Italy-Germany business forum taking place in Rome.
“We have all decided to spend more,” Tajani said in his opening remarks to the forum.
“And spending more does not mean being warmongers,” Tajani went on.
“It means precisely the opposite, because the more balance there is between militaries, the less likely it is that anyone will think of using force to resolve disputes of any kind,” he said.
The issue of security must be addressed “with utmost seriousness,” Tajani underlined.
“It concerns policies for peace: a security strategy is a peace strategy,” said Tajani.
Strengthening the ‘European pillar’ of Nato means not having to be led by the US or allow it take all decisions, Tajani argued.
“If you want to be an equal partner, you have to show that you want to strengthen the European pillar of our Alliance,” Tajani argued.
