KARACHI: Italian flagship aircraft-carrier CAVOUR made history by being the first to port call Karachi.
Aircraft Carrier CAVOUR (the 3rd Italian Naval Ship to be named in honour of Conte Di Cavour).
On 22nd November 2000, a contract was drawn up between Fincantieri and the Italian Ministry of Naval Defence to supply an aircraft carrier vessel to Italian Navy. Building work on the new vessel, began at Fincantieri’s shipyards in Riva Trigoso and Muggiano in July 2001.
The aircraft carrier was delivered to the Italian Navy in April 2008 and entered service in June 2009. CAVOUR (that is armed with two Sylver eight-cell vertical launch systems) can support eight vertical take-off and landing aircraft such as AV-8B Harrier/F-35 or 12 helicopters, such as the EH101/NH 90/SH-3D, or a mix of platforms.
The mooring of (244 meters long, 27,800-ton) CAVOUR at Karachi port signifies not only Italy’s increasing naval engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, but also strengthening of bilateral relations with Pakistan.
Ambassador of Italy H. E. Marilina ARMELLIN welcomed Rear Admiral Giancarlo CIAPPINA Commander of Italian Carrier Strike Group (ICSG) comprising CAVOUR and (144 meters long, 6,700-ton frigate) ALPINO on first operational campaign in the Indo-Pacific.
Pakistan Navy organized a welcome ceremony at the harbour which was also attended by Consul General of Italy in Karachi Danilo GIURDANELLA and Italian Defense Attaché Colonel Enrico ROSA.
Ambassador ARMELLIN was presented a Guard of Honor.
On the occasion Midshipman Muhammad Khubaib was awarded Certificate of Excellence on behalf of Italian Navy.
Ambassador Marilina ARMELLIN, along with the Commander of ICSG Rear Admiral Giancarlo CIAPPINA, hosted a comprehensive Media Briefing onboard ITS CAVOUR.
The Envoy, Capability Director Italian Defense General Staff Rear Admiral Select Stefano BARBIERI, and Commander Italian Carrier Strike Group (ICSG) Rear Admiral Giancarlo CIAPPINA highlighted the importance of interoperability between the navies of Pakistan and Italy.
Ambassador Marilina ARMELLIN, addressing the Media personnel informed: “This is in fact the 4th visit of an Italian Naval Ship to the port of Karachi – the economic capital of Pakistan – in recent times. Always with a significant official delegation from the Italian Navy.”
“But this indeed is the first time our aircraft-carrier came to Pakistan. It shows the bond of friendship between Rome and Islamabad is growing ever stronger. As both countries have agreed to broaden and diversify our bilateral and multilateral relationship,” the Italian diplomat stated.
The Envoy noted that the presence of the ICSG in the Indo-Pacific region testified to Italy’s commitment to deepening cooperation with valued partner countries such as Pakistan, ensuring the security of international maritime routes.
Ambassador ARMELLIN told that she would attend the next IDEAS, scheduled to be held in the month of November along with a delegation from Italian Ministry of Defence.
H. E. further informed that the Iconic Italian sailing ship Amerigo Vespucci* will also dock in Karachi (in the month of December, 2024).
* Iconic Italian Naval (training) ship is named after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
Capability Director Italian Defense General Staff Rear Admiral Select Stefano BARBIERI said: “The Italian Carrier Strike Group has many appointments on the agenda – both at port and the sea. That demonstrates the willingness of our Navy in working in synergy to obtain an effective and profitable maritime cooperation.”
Rear Admiral BARBIERI held that the dynamics of defence in the Indo-Pacific region could affect free trade of goods and services, as well as overall trade relations with the Mediterranean Sea: “The deployment of the Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific region allows Italian defence to strengthen and consolidate strategic protection with viable capabilities well beyond the usual area of operations. Controlling the sea and keeping maritime lines and communication open is crucial.”
Following a briefing, Commander Carrier Strike Group Rear Admiral Giancarlo CIAPPINA pointed towards the flags of six countries appearing on the screen and maintained: “Building a Carrier Strike Group with out own capacity is possible. Because we have logistic ships, because we have destroyers, we have frigates, we have aircraft-carriers, But this multi-national framework gives strong message of cohesion within our allies and like-minded partners”.
Commander Karachi Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi visited ITS CAVOUR.
Defense Industry Forum was held onboard ITS ALPINO to enhance ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and Italy. The event organised by the Secretariat General of Defence and the National Armaments Directorate, in collaboration with the Federation of Italian Companies for Aerospace, Defence and Security (AIAD) to augment the profundity of dialogue between the Italian and Pakistani defence industries, in order to further ameliorate the ongoing cooperation between the two countries.
An Italian delegation consisting of Ambassador Marilina ARMELLIN, Rear Admiral Stefano BARBIERI and Rear Admiral Giancarlo CIAPPINA, called on Commander Pakistan Fleet Rear Admiral Abdul Munib.
Ambassador Marlina ARMELLIN, Consul General Danilo GIURDANELLA, Rear Admiral Select Stefano BARBIERI and a delegation of the Italian Defence Industry visited the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works and met the Managing Director, Rear Admiral Salman Ilyas. On the occasion matters of mutual interests including perspective future cooperation with the Shipyard were discussed. The representatives of Italian Defence industry LEONARDO, Elettronica, MBDA and Fincantieri, who are actively engaged with Pakistan Armed Forces and civilian counterparts, were also present.
Before her departure to Islamabad, Ambassador Marilina ARMELLIN paid a courtesy call to the CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah and discussed the flourishing University cooperation in Karachi as well as promotion of Italian language and culture. Chief Minister talked about potential collaboration with Italian companies in the field of infrastructure and development projects for Sindh.
A soirée was arranged onboard CAVOUR which was attended by CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, civil and military bureaucrats, diplomats, entrepreneurs and representatives of the civil society.
Ambassador Marilina ARMELLIN, talking to Newspakistan.tv stated: “We are particularly honoured and pleased that the Italian Carrier Strike Group (ICSG) came to Karachi. I think an Italian aircraft-carrier’s port-calling Karachi (for the first time) is a landmark visit. Meanwhile, on the frigate ALPINO we are hosting a B2B in the defence sector so the newest Italian technology is displayed for the Pakistani armed forces to see and eventually consider.”
Consul General of Italy in Karachi Danilo Giurdanella said: “I am extremely satisfied with the arrival of the Italian Carrier Strike Group (ICSG) to Karachi. It is a very important sign of friendship between the two brotherly nations of Italy and Pakistan. It is an achievement, I would say the pinnacle of our Naval Diplomacy, that our flagship comes to Karachi and pays a visit to one of the most important port of South Asia to the brotherly nation of Pakistan.”
KARACHI: Italian Defense Attache Colonel Enrico Rosa snapped with Rear Admiral Mian Zakirullah.
Ambassador Marilina ARMELLIN and Rear Admiral Select Stefano BARBIERI, in representation of
Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, held high-level delegation meetings with Pakistan Navy (PN) to reiterate Italy’s commitment that extends beyond military cooperation, encompassing diplomatic, economic and technological domains. PN has extended an invitation to ICSG Commanding Officer to participate in the forthcoming AMAN 2025 Multilateral Exercises to be hosted by PN in February next year.
Newspakistan.tv
