Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has said Italy will maintain its security engagement in the Western Balkans even if NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) reduces its presence or operations in Kosovo, highlighting the region’s importance to Italy’s national security.
Crosetto made the remarks in Prishtina on the sidelines of the ceremony marking the transfer of command of the KFOR mission, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.
He also raised the possibility of deploying radar systems in the Balkans in the future to help protect both Italy and countries across the region against potential threats.
The Italian minister stressed the importance of maintaining a security presence in friendly neighboring countries as part of a broader, shared defensive framework.
“When you consider that the missiles that struck airports in Saudi Arabia were built by the Houthis — not by specialized engineers — and reached speeds of 8,500 kilometers per hour, you understand the nature of the threats all nations will face in the future,” Crosetto said, as quoted by ANSA.
He added that such developments underscored the need to maintain a presence in neighboring friendly countries and build a common defensive shield capable of countering emerging threats.
Crosetto’s comments highlight Italy’s continued focus on security cooperation in the Western Balkans and the potential role of regional defense infrastructure in addressing evolving security challenges.
