Rome, May 12 (QNA) - Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that NATO must evolve, open up, and increasingly engage in dialogue with countries that share the same values, interests, and common visions.

During the Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Crosetto said that looking at the Southern Flank means understanding that security, development, and stability are inseparable dimensions.

"On the issue of defense, Europe must move beyond the boundaries of the 27 Member States and also involve the other nations of the continent, in order to share responsibilities and security and to address increasingly complex threats," he emphasized.

Crosetto continued, "Each of us has the duty to contribute to a new NATO, an essential cornerstone of our defense and deterrence capabilities, now called not only to respond to crises, but also to anticipate them, starting with the threats and instabilities coming from the Southern Flank. Africa represents a strategic priority: a young continent, rich in resources, energy, and potential, yet still marked by deep economic, social, and institutional fragilities." (QNA)