Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday met with his Italian counterpart, Chief of the Italian Navy Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, at the Pentagon, Feb. 11.

During the meeting, the leaders underscored the importance of continuing cooperation between the two navies.

Together, the heads of navy affirmed the close relationship between their navies based on mutual respect and shared values.

“The Italian and American navies enjoy a long history of cooperation as military partners, as NATO allies, and as friends,” said Gilday. “I look forward to continuing the cooperation between our two countries and our two navies. Our relationship is deep and enduring and our partnership around the world does so much to guarantee the security of the international community.”

Gilday also expressed appreciation for Italy’s hosting of American Sailors at Naval Support Activity Naples, Naval Air Station Sigonella, and the Naval Base at Gaeta.

The two navies operated together alongside NATO partner nations in the successful execution of key exercises in the European theater like Formidable Shield 2019, a live-fire integrated air and missile defense exercise off the Western Isles of Scotland, and exercise Sea Breeze, a multinational maritime exercise held in the Black Sea to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime security within Europe.

Gilday and Cavo Dragone recently met in October 2019 during the Italian Navy-hosted Regional Seapower Symposium in Venice.

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