Beretta: « More concrete acts for European defense, are investments that will increasingly determine weights »

The Rearm Europe plan, with the idea of ​​investing 800 billion to build a finally European defense system, has aroused very divergent reactions. Pietro Gussalli Berettapresident and CEO of Beretta Holding That Check one of the first European groups in the sector, with 50 subsidiaries and a turnover of 1.6 billion and with a presence in 24 countriesranging from Qatar to the United States, it is very clear: «We hope that concrete steps can be developed to advance in the creation of a real European defense in the medium term. Is one mandatory roadcurrently the system resembles a puzzle where many resources and many synergies are wasted, which would give greater strength to the EU itself. A few years ago it was thought that the terrestrial fights were a thing of the past, in Ukraine it was seen that it is not so. That’s why investing in common research projects and increasing systems interoperability would be an obligatory path. In any case, we are observing that many countries are multiplying investments in the sector ».

Presence in the USA

The mission of Premier Meloni in Washington will have the defense dossier on the table. Beretta Holding has four plants in the United States, a presence in eight states and a turnover of 650 million dollars. President Trump insists on the need for Europe to pay the security account on his own: « There had been some alarm bells for some time. America has sent many signs to increase investments with all past administrations. We Europeans do not want to think that the US can have other priorities, even an international politics strategy that is changing. For the United States, economic investments are always connected to those for military security».

The European plan

For this there are new more intense interviews with Japan and the attention that is increasingly oriented by the Atlantic to the Pacific. «This situation of instability and uncertainty is destined to continue. AND Defense investments will increasingly determine the weight of a country in the geopolitical scenario. I am not among the catastrophists because Italy can play a role in the team of second row countries. Von der Leyen’s message was welcomed very well by France, Germany, the United Kingdom. If Italy aims to have a front row role, he will have to invest a lot more». But how is our industrial defense system? «Italy has magnificent companies and a relevant industrial know -how. Much will depend on the decisions of politics, Minister Crosetto is very competent but a new general awareness is needed ».

The risk of the recourse

There is a very eloquent graph: until the fall of the Berlin Wall the military spending in the EU was beyond the threshold of 3% of the GDP, then the picture changed for the passage of the Eastern to the democratic systems and investments dropped under 1.5%. But now the world uncertainty rate after February 24, 2022 has grown to an incalculable extent. «Indecision risks being the worst thing. In recent years the EU has made some priorities errors but the entrepreneurial fabric is excellent and we are in a position to react. And to play an important role on the international chessboard. The duties war must be seen in this scheme. Europe is a great economic and political entity, not very aware of its role ».

The numbers of the group

How is the group? «We continue to invest, the family and management have made the internarationalization and technology of development keys. And the results give us right ». Last year the Ebitda grew to 237 million and liquidity at 207 million. “We intend to grow again, We are evaluating new acquisitions including some in the United States. A growth direction is the Middle East where we discuss with governments of agreements related to our industrial know -how. There are very relevant investment programs all over the world and we will not watch. We are experiencing a clear change. I am sure that European countries will live up to the challenges ».