During the talks held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at the Fincantieri – Cantieri Navali Italiani shipyard in La Spezia, Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda expressed his gratitude for the presence of Italian destroyers in the Baltic Sea and thanked Italy for its troop contributions as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence on the so-called Eastern Flank. He emphasized Italy’s significant contribution to regional security.
Zdjęcia: Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej
One of the key topics of discussion was also the cooperation between the defense industries of both countries, particularly in the context of European armament programs. Poland and Italy are jointly participating in the CPoA 155mm consortium, which has achieved success in the EDIRPA (European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act) competition.
This program aims to strengthen the defense capabilities of EU member states through joint procurement and the development of advanced weapon systems. The participation of Poland and Italy in this initiative underscores the growing importance of their defense sector collaboration.
During the visit to La Spezia, the Italian side presented its offer to Poland as part of the Orka program, which aims to acquire new submarines for the Polish Navy. The Italians proposed their currently under-construction vessels, emphasizing their modernity and interoperability with NATO systems. Poland is considering various options in this regard, and the Italian offer aligns with the broader context of the armed forces modernization, the strengthening of national industrial capabilities, and the deepening of cooperation with key European partners.
The meeting between Deputy Minister Bejda and Undersecretary Perego di Cremnago represents another step in strengthening Polish-Italian defense cooperation, aimed at enhancing security in the Baltic Sea region and across NATO’s Eastern Flank. The initiatives and projects discussed demonstrate that defense relations between Poland and Italy have a solid foundation and a promising outlook for further development.
A day earlier, Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda began his visit to Italy, including a stop at the M23 S.R.L. facilities in Bergamo.
Bilateralna współpraca wojskowo-przemysłowa oraz perspektywy jej rozwoju w najbliższych latach to główne tematy rozmowy wiceministra @pawelbejda z podsekretarzem stanu włoskiego MON, Matteo Perego di Cremnago.
Więcej: https://t.co/RRfLq7DsbZ pic.twitter.com/iv0Eiyztll
— Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej 🇵🇱 (@MON_GOV_PL) February 18, 2025
