Units of the Italian Armed Forces are currently engaged in the NATO exercise "Swift Response" included in the larger exercise "Saber Guardian 2017" in the Black Sea region. The Chief of Defense Staff, General Claudio Graziano, in Bulgaria for attending a day of exercise, underlined "the importance for the military of sharing international training moments in order to operate in perfect synergy for common security".
The aim of the exercise, which takes place in Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, is to increase the interoperability of participating countries and demonstrate readiness to support security and stability in the Black Sea region.
In particular, the units of the Italian Armed Forces who belong to the paratrooper brigade thunderbolt they will train with colleagues from allied nations to demonstrate their ability to respond to crisis scenarios in a very short time.
On the occasion, General Graziano also met the Bulgarian political and military leaders who thanked him for the commitment of the Italian Air Force aircraft deployed in Bulgaria since last week to guarantee theair policing.
"Italy - said the general - it firmly supports every initiative aimed at increasing the cohesion of the Alliance by sharing responsibility and solidarity among all member countries. For this reason Italy, as a responsible member of NATO, is strongly committed to conducting air policing activities in order to preserve the safety of the Alliance's airspace.".
