Italy will deploy two minesweepers first to the Eastern Mediterranean and subsequently to the Red Sea in order to position them closer to the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has said.
The announcement was made during a joint session of the parliamentary committees on foreign affairs and defence of both houses of parliament, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.
“If a peace agreement is reached, it would take nearly a month of navigation for all allied units to reach the Persian Gulf. As a precautionary measure, we are organizing the deployment of two minesweepers in close proximity to the strait: first in the Eastern Mediterranean, then in the Red Sea,” Crosetto said. He added that the measures are being implemented within the framework of the existing Mediterraneo Sicuro (Safe Mediterranean) and Aspides missions.
Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani emphasized that the move does not amount to the launch of a new military mission in the Persian Gulf. “We are committed to peace and participation in the international coalition [to ensure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz], but this will only be possible after the cessation of hostilities in the region,” he said.
By Vafa Guliyeva
