Amid an increase in immigration fluxes, which Minister Crosetto linked to the Russian mercenary outfit’s activities in the African continent, the EU and NATO must respond collectively to the pressure and maintain the Western front’s unity
Guido Crosetto links emigration to the Wagner Group. Through an official note, the Italian Defence Minister called attention to the Russian mercenary outfit’s activities in the African continent and their consequences, amid climbing emigration figures.
- “It seems to me […] that the exponential increase in the migratory phenomenon from African shores is also, to a not inconsiderable extent, part of a clear strategy of hybrid warfare” that Wagner is implementing, “using its considerable weight in some African countries,” he said.
Hybrid attacks require shared responses. Just as Western countries realised that cyber attacks were part of the global clash opened up by the Ukrainian conflict, continued Mr Crosetto, they should now realise that the southern European front “is also becoming more dangerous by the day”.
- “Uncontrolled and continuous immigration, added to the economic and social crisis, becomes a way to hit the most exposed countries” – Italy first and foremost – “and their geostrategic choices.”
- “The Atlantic Alliance is strengthened if the problems arising from collective choices are also shared, but it runs the risk of cracking if the countries most exposed to retaliation of various kinds (such as some States opening the immigration ‘taps’) are left alone.”
