Defence: Crosetto says, “There was accurate information about the troops in Saudi Arabia – all we had to do was listen”

Rome, 1 August (LaPresse) – Defence Minister Guido Crosetto says he is “bewildered” by the controversy surrounding the deployment of Italian troops to Saudi Arabia. “What is being treated as ‘news’,” explains Crosetto in an interview with Corriere della Sera, “is something that has already been explained, in the relevant parliamentary committees, by myself and Defence leadership, with detailed briefings. The redeployment of our troops from Kuwait to Saudi Arabia was announced months ago. Our contingents are on duty in the Middle East, on existing and authorised missions, to defend our citizens and our interests, and also to support our friendly Gulf states – which are still under attack today – with purely defensive tasks: Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait itself have asked us for help. It is well known that our air force, and its associated military capabilities, have been relocated from Kuwait because they were no longer able to carry out their mission safely in that country. One need only listen to what has been said and reported repeatedly in Parliament.” Saudi Arabia, Crosetto emphasises, “is not a country at war; it is a country defending itself against war. In any case, if necessary, we will return to Parliament to explain everything in full, down to the smallest detail.”