Italy ‘willing to join’ European military intervention initiative

Italy’s government said on Thursday, September 19 that it is ready to join a European military coalition to react to crises near the continent’s borders, as the country’s new government rekindled ties with the E.U.

The announcement follows a Wednesday visit to Rome by French President Emmanuel Macron for talks with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte aimed at turning the page on Italy’s previous anti-European Union populist government.

“Italy has officially communicated its willingness to join” the European Intervention Initiative EI2, “providing its particular national expertise in the security sector in the Mediterranean region,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

It described the European Intervention Initiative as “an innovative approach to cooperation in defense, inspired by the ideas of “political interoperability” and “strategic anticipation.””

MORE: https://thedefensepost.com/2019/09/19/italy-military-european-intervention-initiative/