Crosetto says US not planning to withdraw from military bases in Italy

Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said there will be no withdrawal of United States forces from American bases in Italy following talks with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on Monday.

Speaking to the media at the US embassy in Washington after the meeting, Crosetto said he did not perceive any desire by the United States to withdraw from its bases in Italy.

“Indeed, from a bilateral and NATO perspective, cooperation with us is in some ways very important for the United States,” the Italian defence minister said.

Addressing the possibility of a wider American military withdrawal from Europe, Crosetto said the United States had been discussing such plans for years as part of a strategy involving a smaller commitment.

“These are assets that they could withdraw from Europe and easily replace with European ones,” he said.