Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Wednesday (8 May 2024) to discuss preparations for the Washington Summit, including work to further strengthen NATO, achieve fairer burden-sharing and provide greater support for Ukraine.
The Secretary General praised Italy's support to Ukraine, including the provision of a SAMP/T air defense system together with France. Italy also signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, helping to improve Ukraine's defenses, support its arms industry and counter hybrid threats.
The Secretary General commended Prime Minister Meloni for Italy's numerous contributions to the Alliance, including leadership of the NATO Battlegroup in Bulgaria and contribution of forces to the Battlegroups in Hungary and Latvia. Italy regularly participates in the Baltic Air Policing and NATO maritime operations. Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Italy for its commitment to the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, and the NATO training mission in Iraq. He also welcomed Italy's key role in developing NATO's approach to its southern neighbourhood.
