ENDF chief of staff welcomes Italian counterpart

Addis Ababa, February 14, 2024 (FBC) – The Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), Field Marshal General Berhanu Jula, engaged in deliberations with his Italian counterpart, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, on matters pertaining to fostering collaboration to enhance the historical amity between them.

During the discussion, Field Marshal General Berhanu Jula, the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), emphasized the enduring and mutually beneficial relations between Ethiopia and Italy. He underscored the active engagements and investments of Italian enterprises in numerous developmental initiatives within his nation.

He reminisced about Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent working visit to Italy amidst the Italy-Africa Summit, wherein his rendezvous with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni elevated the bilateral rapport between the two nations.

The ENDF Chief of Staff affirmed that his discourse with the Italian counterpart yielded substantial results. He highlighted historical collaborative endeavors in training and diverse domains with Italy, emphasizing their mutual commitment to addressing regional security matters and engaging in military training initiatives.

He mentioned that Italy has expressed interest to work collaboratively in training Ethiopian military personnel. In that regard, Field Marshal Gen. Berhanu expressed the imperative of leveraging Italy’s cutting-edge technology, implying a symbiotic exchange where they provide technological expertise and trained personnel, while also facilitating training opportunities.

Italy’s Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, expressed his gratitude for the welcome accorded to him and his delegation. He said that he would also like to learn from the experience of the ENDF.

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo added that in the future, his side will work together with the Ethiopian Defense Forces in other military matters, including cybersecurity.