Premier Giorgia Meloni paid a visit
to the Amerigo Vespucci in the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah on
Saturday and compared the Italian Navy's training ship to Italy
itself.
"At the end of the day, Italy is like this ship," Meloni told
its crew.
"If everyone does not do their bit, you cannot sail, especially
when the sea is stormy," added the premier, who has started a
three-day visit of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The Vespucci departed from Genoa on July 1, 2023, for a two-year
world tour taking in five continents, 30 counties and 35 ports
before its return to the Mediterranean.
With the stage in Jeddah, the 33rd of the world tour, the
Vespucci has travelled more than 43,000 nautical miles, over
twice the length of the equator.
The tall ship crossed the Bāb el-Mandeb Strait accompanied by
the frigate Alpino and the destroyer Caio Duilio to reach
Jeddah.
The opening ceremony of Villaggio Italia, the touring exposition
of Italian excellence that is set for its eighth and final stage
before the Vespucci returns to the Mediterranean, takes place on
Monday.
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto will take part in the event.
On the same day, Crosetto will present the Vespucci's
Mediterranean tour together with Luca Andreoli, the CEO of the
ministry's Difesa Servizi agency.
It will be possible to find out what's in store for the "most
beautiful ship in the world" in view of its return to Italy
exclusively via ansa.it.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
