Italian premier requests NATO appoint Italian special envoy for alliance’s southern flank

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has requested that an Italian be appointed as NATO's new special envoy for its southern flank, local media reported on Thursday.

"It is something Italy struggled for, and we believe it is right that an Italian should be chosen for that role,” Meloni emphasized to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during the three-day NATO summit in Washington, DC, which is set to conclude today, according to the state-run ANSA news agency.

Stressing the importance Italy attaches to the issue, Meloni said the appointment would be a recognition of Italian contributions to the alliance, including the number of military personnel it has assigned to the various NATO missions.