Italy's peacekeeping missions around the world will continue in the coming years and serve the national interest, prime minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Tuesday.
"Our activities are destined to continue in the years to come," Gentiloni told a military ceremony in Rome.
"It is essential to safeguard the national interest of a country which has a strong identity but which is not hostile to others or nationalistic," Gentiloni stated.
Italy currently has over 4,000 troops serving in missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Kosovo. It will cut its 1,500-strong military contingent in Iraq this year, drawing down at least 700 troops, defence minister Roberta Pinotti announced earlier this month.
