Milan, 24 January (LaPresse) – "The Italian government was astonished to hear President Trump's statements that NATO allies “fell behind” during operations in Afghanistan. After the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time in its history: an extraordinary act of solidarity with the United States. In that massive operation against those who fuelled terrorism, Italy responded immediately alongside its allies, deploying thousands of troops and assuming full responsibility for Regional Command West, one of the most important operational areas of the entire international mission. Over the course of nearly twenty years of commitment, our nation has borne a cost that cannot be questioned: 53 Italian soldiers killed and over 700 wounded while engaged in combat operations, security missions and training programmes for Afghan forces." This was stated by the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. ‘For this reason, statements that minimise the contribution of NATO countries in Afghanistan are unacceptable, especially when they come from an allied nation. Italy and the United States are bound by a solid friendship, founded on shared values and historical collaboration, which is even more necessary in the face of the many challenges currently being faced. But friendship requires respect, a fundamental condition for continuing to guarantee the solidarity that underpins the Atlantic Alliance,’ concluded Meloni.