European defense parallel to NATO ‘would be a useless duplication’, says Italian premier

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday that NATO remains the backbone of European defense.

Meloni told parliament that she agrees with improved cooperation and coordination between European states but dismissed the idea of creating an autonomous European defense structure.

"I want a European pillar of NATO, but I think that a European defense parallel to NATO would be a mistake. It would be a useless duplication,” she said.

Commenting on the criticism that the US President Donald Trump is responsible for the increasingly unpredictable and unstable global state of affairs, Meloni maintained that it would be wrong to attribute increasing instability in the international arena to decisions.

“It seems like simplifications to me. It is true that there is a situation of growing chaos, but it did not start today,” she said.

On the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Meloni noted that the situation remains fragile, yet hopeful.

“The situation is still very complex but we are still confident that we can move forward with the truce and that we can eventually return to negotiations," she added.