ROME, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Italy is preparing for a possible naval mission to safeguard its merchant shipping as security concerns mount in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Thursday.
Crosetto said he and Italy’s chief of defence staff had agreed to mobilise the navy to prepare “whatever is necessary” to guarantee the secure transit of Italian vessels, arguing that delays in responding to mounting maritime risks could have direct consequences for the economy and consumers.
