Italy signed a frigate export deal with Portugal worth 3 billion euros (about 5 trillion won).
According to Reuters on the 20th (local time), Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that Portugal agreed to buy three frigates built by Italy state-owned shipbuilder Fincantieri.
Meloni said, "We are very pleased with Portugal's decision," and noted, "This deal is both a case in which the competitiveness of Italy's industry has been recognized and evidence that Europe can strengthen its strategic autonomy by investing in the industrial and technological capabilities of its own corporations."
The frigates to be exported are multipurpose warships co-designed by Fincantieri and France's Naval Group.
Prime Minister Meloni and Portugal Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced the signing of the frigate purchase contract at a joint press conference after holding a summit in Rome on the day.
European countries are continuing a stance of expanding defense spending while strengthening intra-regional defense industry cooperation in response to Russia's security threat.