Giorgia Meloni admits that the US and Europe are going through a “particularly difficult” period in their relationship
Relations between the US and Europe are going through “a particularly difficult period”, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned on Thursday, who assured that she wants to “work to keep the two sides of the Atlantic united”, but still asking Europe to strengthen its independence, reports France Presse, according to Agerpres.
“It is undeniable that we are going through a particularly difficult period in relations between Europe and the United States,” Meloni said in a general policy speech to lawmakers.
The US president's indignation at the refusal of European NATO allies to participate in the war against Iran has increased fears that Donald Trump could withdraw the US from the military alliance created after the Second World War.
“But it is also undeniable that the current American administration has accelerated a trajectory announced by previous administrations: a progressive disinterest in Europe for the benefit of global competition with China, thus making the Indo-Pacific a priority geostrategic axis,” added the head of the Italian government.
Giorgia Meloni, who has often assumed the role of mediator between European and American positions, pleaded for “the achievement of a balanced strategic autonomy that gradually reduces our dependencies and for a defense capability that does not make us dependent on our American allies.”
She also said she made clear her disagreement with the US stance on tariffs in its relationship with Europe and defended the importance of NATO.
Under older agreements, Italy hosts some of the main US military bases in Europe, but their use for combat missions must be notified to the Italian government. At the end of March, the Meloni government refused the landing of American military planes at the base of Sigonella (Sicily), without specifying the reason.
