ADVERTISEMENTItalian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met US President Donald Trump in the White House. After a bilateral meeting held in the Oval Office, followed by a camera lunch, the two leaders answered questions from the pool of White House journalists and Italian journalists, confirming their personal and institutional Agreement.
Donald Trump accepted the invitation launched by the Italian Prime Minister before the meeting for an official visit to Rome “In the near future” : An opportunity, according to Giorgia Meloni, to relaunch discussions between Washington and Brussels. According to her, the American president “would indeed think about the possibility of meeting other European leaders during his visit”.
“Italy can be the best ally of the United States if Meloni remains Prime Minister”said Donald Trump. “It’s a great person, she does an excellent job and our relationships are excellent. Italy is one of our closest allies, not just in Europe”he added.
Regarding customs duties, the two leaders said they were convinced that they can find a fair trade agreement. “There will be no problem to conclude an agreement with the EU on customs duties, there will be no problem with anyone”said Donald Trump.
The American president repeated that he was negotiating with several countries, but that he was not “Not in a hurry”. The United States will also conclude a good agreement with China on customs duties, according to him.
For his part, Giorgia Meloni said he was confident in the possibility of reaching an agreement, adding that she thought that “We have to speak frankly and locate ourselves in the middle”.
“I believe in the unity of the West, we must simply speak and achieve results, and find ourselves in the best common ground to grow together. When I speak of the West, I am not only talking about geography, but civilization”said Giorgia Meloni who, paraphrasing the Trumpian slogan “Make America Great Again,” said she wanted “Make the West big again”.
The Italian Prime Minister also announced that Italy “will have to increase its energy imports” and that “Italian companies will invest 10 billion euros” in the United States.
Defense expenses, migration, war in Ukraine and Nuclear Agreement with Iran was also one of the subjects discussed during the bilateral meeting.
Defense expenses
“Italy intends to reach the 2 %threshold”announced Giorgia Meloni about the defense expenses of NATO members, a hot subject for the American president.
“Italy will announce to the next NATO summit that it will bring its expenses to 2 %, as has been requested. Europe is committed to doing more, it works on instruments to allow and help the Member States increase their defense expenses. We are convinced that everyone must do more”she said.
Asked about whether the target of 2 % was sufficient, Donald Trump, however, quipped: “It is never enough”.
The question of immigration
“Italy and the United States have common positions on a number of questions, such as the fight against irregular immigration and synthetic drugs”a déclaré freezy melons.
After reiterating the hard line imposed during the first months of his presidency against migrants (irregular or not) in the United States, Donald Trump turned to Europe, whose migratory policies he criticized.
“I am not a big fan of Europe and what she has done in immigration, but I think she will have to become more intelligent, because what she has done to her seriously prejudice”said the American president, praising the Italian government for his migration policy.
ADVERTISEMENTThe Italian Prime Minister immediately intervened to emphasize that policies were changing, attributing part of the merit 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”.
Donald Trump: “I’m not a big fan of Zelensky”
Giorgia Meloni did not elude the subject of the war in Ukraine, on which the two leaders nevertheless showed over the months that their positions were very distant.
“You know what I think” on Ukraine, “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 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 the Italian leader.
“Italy was very useful to support Ukraine”said Donald Trump.
ADVERTISEMENT“Now, I will try to end it, but as you know, Russia is much more important as military force and, if you are intelligent, you do not engage in wars that you will not be able to 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.”
