Key players within NATO, with the goal of establishing a strong European pillar alongside the historic American one. Long-standing leaders on NATO’s eastern flank, yet eager to reinforce the southern front as well. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed NATO’s new Secretary General, Mark Rutte, at Palazzo Chigi; Rutte also visited the President of the Republic at the Quirinale, underscoring Italy’s fundamental role in the alliance. "We are NATO leaders in both quality and quantity in front-line operations", especially "with our presence along the entire eastern flank of the alliance, as well as in Iraq, Kosovo, and the Mediterranean, demonstrating a historic commitment to the Balkans, which remains a crucial region". Aside from the Balkans (where the Italian component has recently reclaimed command of the KFOR mission in Kosovo), Meloni insists on a new front, the southern one: with Rutte "we agree on paying attention to the southern side of the Alliance, with a renewed commitment to the tools to be deployed. It is critical that the package of measures is implemented". The prime minister also emphasizes the importance of the development of a European defense industry. She asserts that the American pillar of NATO must be complemented by "an equally robust European pillar," and that "the complementarity between NATO and the European Union must be leveraged". Finally, the problem of Ukraine cannot be avoided: "We restated our position, which is to provide the best possible conditions for a just settlement and to assist Ukraine in moving forward. Italy has always done its part: we have authorized nine aid packages, we will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2025, on which the entire Italian system is currently working, and we are still trying to confirm the agreement on the use of Russian assets". Rutte stated, "It was great to be in Rome and meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President Sergio Mattarella, and other senior officials to discuss a number of security issues. Italy makes significant contributions to Euro-Atlantic security".