ROME, March 7 (Reuters) - Italy's defence minister has urged the country's defence industry to accelerate production to help bolster national security, citing a rapidly deteriorating international
Italy's Defence Minister Calls for Faster Production from National Arms Industry
Urgent Measures to Strengthen National Security
ROME, March 7 (Reuters) - Italy's defence minister has urged the country's defence industry to accelerate production to help bolster national security, citing a rapidly deteriorating international environment, particularly in the Middle East.
Emergency Meeting with Defence Officials
In a statement, Guido Crosetto said on Saturday he had convened an emergency videoconference with Italy's Chief of Defence Staff General Luciano Portolano and representatives of the domestic defence industry.
Key Participants
* Around 130 people took part in the meeting.
Focus Areas and Immediate Actions
* Crosetto asked companies to identify all available operational capabilities, programmes close to completion, and any initiatives that could help strengthen Italy's defences "in the shortest possible time", with a particular focus on air defence.
Reducing Bureaucratic Obstacles
* "It is essential to reduce to a minimum the obstacles and bureaucratic procedures that are increasingly incompatible with needs that cannot wait," the minister added.
Synergy and Speed in Defence Ecosystem
* Italy needs its defence ecosystem to operate "in close synergy and with speed" as the international situation could escalate further, with potentially serious geopolitical and economic consequences for the country, he said.
(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni; Editing by Jan Harvey)
