Austrian government plans to deploy troops at the Brenner Pass, the Alpine border crossing between Austria and Italy.

ROME, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Italy summoned the Austrian ambassador here for talks after Austria said it was ready to militarize its border with Italy to prevent asylum seekers from entering the country, the Italian Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday.

Following statements by the Austrian government regarding the deployment of troops at the Brenner Pass (the Alpine border crossing between the two countries), the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday morning summoned Austrian ambassador to Rome, Rene Pollitzer, the ministry said in a statement.

Austrian Defense Minister Hans Peter Doskozil had reportedly stated that Vienna was ready to deploy armored vehicles and up to 750 troops at the border within days to stop migrants.

Austria is holding early parliamentary elections on Oct. 15, and the vote could see the far-right, anti-immigrant Freedom Party make strong gains.

Italy faces a continuous stream of asylum seekers arriving on its shores as thousands of men, women and children fleeing war and famine in North Africa and the Middle East embark on unseaworthy boats run by human traffickers.

Most of the vessels leave from Libya, with Italy as the nearest European landfall on the so-called Central Mediterranean route.

Italy, France and Germany hammered out a plan of action on Monday to curb the number of arrivals by sea.