The Italian Confederation of Shipowners has expressed strong appreciation for the initiative announced by the Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, in agreement with the government and the heads of defense, to put in place the necessary measures to ensure transit through safety of Italian ships through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait ( of 17 September 2026). Confitarma noted that the proposal of the Minister Crosetto goes in the direction indicated also in the recent joint letter addressed to the government in which Confitarma, together with Assarmatori, had drawn attention to the need to strengthen traffic protection commercial and national maritime presence in the main quadrants of strategic interest.

Stressing that the safety of the main maritime communication is essential not only for shipowners but for the continuity of supplies, the stability of supply chains and competitiveness of the entire Italian economic system, the president of Confitarma, Mario Zanetti, highlighted that "guaranteeing the safety of of our ships and, before that, of the women and men embarked is the top priority. But it also means and above all to protect freedom of navigation, Continuity of trade and an economic infrastructure fundamental for the country. In a phase characterized by a growing geopolitical instability - he added - is It is essential to be able to count on safe and predictable routes. The uncertainty about transits through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb in fact, it risks consolidating deviations towards Capo di Buona Hope, with longer navigation times, consumption, costs and consequences on the entire logistics chain. For this reason, We consider the signal from the Maritime security is to all intents and purposes a component of national economic security".

Thus reiterating the convinced support of Confitarma to the commitment of the Italian Navy and to the missions international and European standards for the protection of freedom of navigation, starting from Eunavfor Aspides, Zanetti noted that "The Navy is playing a role as always essential, making skills and abilities available to the country operational of the highest level. Confitarma - he specified - is ready to continue to cooperate with the government, defence and armed forces, by making available the evidence and operational needs of member companies. Defending freedom and the safety of the routes means ensuring continuity energy supply and defend competitiveness of Italy and its vocation as a great maritime country".