Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani rejected claims of a rift between the US and Italy, saying that the partnership between the two countries does not depend on individuals. According to Tajani, the relationship is based on shared values and interests.
Tajani said it was natural for two allies to openly share their views in the face of international crises, adding that transatlantic ties remain one of the main pillars of Western security. He said the importance of the partnership had grown further at a time when strategic rivals were waiting for vulnerabilities in the West to deepen.
NATO summit in Ankara
Tajani said the NATO Summit recently held in Ankara demonstrated that there was no division within the Alliance. He described the debate at the summit as a necessary assessment to determine how NATO could be strengthened in the future.
Tajani said the partnership between Italy and the US should be based on pragmatism, increased trade and cooperation aimed at the future. He added that the two countries had sufficiently strong ties to manage their disagreements constructively.
Room for negotiations on Ukraine
Tajani said the current stage of the war in Ukraine could create an opportunity for negotiations, pointing to the results achieved by Kyiv and the economic and political difficulties facing Russia.
Tajani said cutting aid to Ukraine would force the country to enter negotiations from a weaker position, but stressed that the process should nevertheless be conducted carefully. He added that significant uncertainty remained over the Kremlin’s true intentions.
Tajani said civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine continued to come under bombardment and that the approaching winter would also be difficult. The Italian foreign minister argued that Russia needed to be brought into serious negotiations, saying this should be pursued through a dual approach based on maintaining support for Kyiv and continuing pressure on Russia.
Defense and social policies
Tajani said he did not consider it right to present defense and social policies as alternatives to each other, arguing that security was essential to protecting the social model and the economy.
Tajani also said that supporting Ukraine’s defense did not mean reducing the resources allocated to social welfare.
