Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met US President Donald Trumpat the White House. During a bilateral meeting held in the Oval Office, followed by a camera lunch in the cabinet room, the two leaders answered questions from the swimming pool of White House journalists and Italian journalists, reaffirming their understanding and close relationship.
Trump accepted an invitation from the Italian Prime Minister for an official visit to Rome “in the near future”, an opportunity, says Meloni, to relaunch the dialogue between Washington and Brussels. Meloni says that the American president during his visit to Italy could also consider meeting representatives of the EU.
“Italy can be the best ally of the United States if Meloni remains first,” said Trump. “He is a great person, she does an excellent job and our relationship is great. Italy is one of our closest allies not only in Europe,” he added.
On the prices, the two leaders said they were convinced that they could find a fair trade agreement. “There will be no problem concluding an agreement with the EU on prices, there will be no problem with anyone,” Trump underlined in the oval office.
The American president reiterated that he was negotiating with several countries but argued that he was “in a hurry”. The “United States will also do a good deal with China” on prices, he added.
Meloni says that she is convinced that an agreement could be concluded, adding that she believed “that we must speak frankly and be in the middle”.
“I believe in the unity of the West, we must simply speak and arrive at results, and find ourselves in the best common ground to grow together. When I speak of the West, I am not only talking about geographically but as a civilization,” said Meloni, who read the Slogan “ Make America '' of Trump, and expressed his desire for `Mwga '' ' Make the West big.
The Italian Prime Minister also announced that Italy “will have to increase energy imports” and that “Italian companies will invest 10 billion euros” in the United States.
Defense expenses, migration, Ukraine war and nuclear agreement with Iran was also one of the subjects discussed during the warm meeting of the two leaders.
Meloni: Italy will increase defense expenses
“Italy intends to reach the 2%threshold,” said the Prime Minister referring to the NATO defense expenditure requirement which was a hot topic for the 47th American president, which has repeatedly warned Washington from the Alliance if European countries fail to do their part and invest in their defense capacities.
“Italy will announce to the next NATO summit that this will increase expenses to 2% as requested. Europe is committed to doing more, working on instruments to allow and help the Member States increase defense. We are convinced that everyone must do more,” said Meloni.
Trump, when asked if the 2% goal was sufficient, replied, saying “it was never enough”.
Migration
“Italy and the United States have common positions on a number of questions, such as the fight against irregular immigration and synthetic drugs,” said Prime Minister Meloni.
After reiterating the difficult line imposed in the first months of his presidency against migrants (irregular and others) in the United States, Trump moved to Europe, criticizing his migration policies.
“I am not a big fan of Europe and what they have done on immigration, but I think they will have to become more intelligent, because they are seriously damaged by what they have done,” said Trump, who in turn welcomed the Italian government, led by Meloni, for his migration policy.
ADVERTISEMENTThe Italian chief immediately intervened to emphasize that European policies also change, attributing a certain credit to Italy.
“We start to do so, you will see the policies that Europe implements: the European Commission has just adopted regulations on repatriations, things change, also thanks to the example of Italy. We work together and I am optimistic.”
Trump: “I'm not a fan of Zelenskyy”
Meloni did not escape the subject of the war in Ukraine,
Apparently one of the rare, if not the only one, the point of discord of the meeting of the pair, the two leaders displayed during the months that their positions on the issue are distant.
ADVERTISEMENT“I think there was an invasion and that the invader was Putin and Russia, but today, what is important is that together we want to work and that we work to arrive at a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. These are efforts on which we have also shared our work today,” said Meloni.
“Italy has been very useful to support Ukraine,” said Trump, stressing that “we are about to end the war, but we will see in the coming days”.
“Now, I will try to end it, but as you know, Russia is much greater as a military force, and, if you are intelligent, you do not get involved in the wars that you cannot manage later,” added the American president.
“I don't accuse Zelensky, but he didn't do a good job, I'm not a big fan of him.”
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