Drone over Romania, Meloni condemns Russia. The League: working for peace - What NATO Article 4 says
Italia's condemnation but the League's more nuanced position in the majority
'A very serious act'. Giorgia Meloni thus defines what happened on the night between 28 and 29 May, when a Russian drone hit a civilian building in Romania, injuring two citizens "on the territory of an allied and EU member state". For the president of the Council, who expresses "the deepest closeness and solidarity goes to the people affected, to the government and to all the Romanian people", it is proof that the war of aggression carried out by Vladmir Putin "spares no one, continuing to brutally strike innocent civilians, ignoring all limits and putting European security at risk". A clear condemnation of the episode that, however, is not expressed with the same clarity by the League: the party of Matteo Salvini calls for working "for peace, listening and involving everyone".
For Italia (which in the coming weeks will risk Air Force fighter jets in Romania, according to a rotation already planned in NATO air surveillance missions over the Red Sea), as is reasoned in government circles, it is one of those situations in which it is advisable not to raise the level of tension too high, but the seriousness of the episode cannot be ignored.
Meanwhile, developments in the conflict with Ukraine should be the focus of a leaders' meeting in the E5 format - Germany, France, the UK, Italia, and Poland - scheduled for next week, and which should also involve the Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. It is unlikely, however, that the summit will be held on 2 June as initially assumed and also announced on X by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. The Prime Minister, on the other hand, will be busy on Tuesday morning at the Altare della Patria where Head of State Sergio Mattarella will lay a laurel wreath on the occasion of Republic Day, and immediately afterwards she will attend the Military Review at the Imperial Forums. The organisation of the E5 meeting is the responsibility of Berlin, it is explained, which however - as far as the agenda is concerned - must also consider the summit between the EU and the Western Balkans already set for 5 June in Tivat, Montenegro, where Meloni will also be present.
Meanwhile, he speaks of "dangerous and irresponsible escalation that cannot be tolerated" Guido Crosetto. "In the face of these threats," assured the Defence Minister, "Nato's cohesion remains unshakable: the security of a member of the Alliance and the European Union is the security of us all. United in defence of peace, stability and Euro-Atlantic territory'.
"Once again, the Italia government is asking the Russian Federation for a serious commitment to a just and lasting peace," was echoed by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who hastened to condemn the incident.
