Italy Supports ASEAN's View Of Indo-Pacific

JAKARTA - Italy supports ASEAN's View of the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) to maintain stability and peace in the region, Italy's Ambassador to Indonesia Benedetto Latteri said Tuesday.

"This area is strategic for trade, and Italy wants to be present to support stability and peace in the region," he said at a press conference during the ITS call port Francesco Morosini at Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, Tuesday, quoted by Antara.

The Italian warship made a five-day port call to Jakarta from July 18-22 2023, as part of the five-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

Latteri said Italy wanted to "show our results in maintaining the status quo" in the Indo-Pacific region.

He added that the ship's mission includes ensuring stability and peace in the region, including in line with ASEAN's position in the Indo-Pacific.

Francesco Morosini is the latest high-tech Italian ship, Latteri said. It was assigned to the Italian Navy in October last year, and is currently in its first operational deployment.

It has sailed since last April and stopped in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea before arriving in Indonesia. The ship will travel to another port before returning to Italy at the end of September.

Named by a soldier of the Republic of Venice who lived between 1619 and 1694, the ship has been designed with a refined double-use feature to carry out military duties, including patrols, logistics transportation, and surface battles, as well as civil protection activities.

Morosini can reach speeds of up to 32 knots or the equivalent of 59.26 km per hour.