Undersecretary Tripodi spoke at the International Conference on the Future of European Defence

The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, spoke today at the fourth Aspen International Conference on the Future of European Defence, organized to mark the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Pavia in 1525.

In her speech, Undersecretary Tripodi emphasized that the topic of common European defence has returned to the centre of the EU's political and strategic agenda, especially following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While recalling the importance of the White Paper on Defence, which identifies critical areas requiring urgent investment, ranging from drones to artificial intelligence, the Undersecretary explained that Italy has decided to avail itself of new European financial instruments, such as the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) fund, worth €14.9 billion, intended to strengthen national defence capabilities and contribute to Europe's collective security.

Undersecretary Tripodi said: "Intense diplomatic activity, aimed at resolving ongoing conflicts and preventing new ones, needs to be matched by determination to build more efficient, stronger, and more appropriate national and European military structures for the times we live in." She concluded: "Only in this way can we ensure the deterrence needed to discourage anyone from attacking the European Union, its territory, and its values, address the complexity of today's world, and build a national and European defence enabling us to rise up to the challenges that lie ahead."