"It is no longer just about the safety of naval transport but about security tout court, given that it seems the Houthis' intentions are to increase the level of attacks".
Thus the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, on the sidelines of the handover ceremony of the new Chief of Defense Staff, Carmine Masiello.
"Italy - underlined the minister - for years through international missions has assumed an importance in the international panorama. Now two have been added, one in the Gaza Strip with a mainly humanitarian character and the other for security in the Red Sea which will become vital in coming months, as today's news also demonstrates."
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