The prime minister of Italy sends messages on defence, immigration and European strategy amid international processes and Marco Rubio’s visit to Rome.
At a time of intense geopolitical processes and increased uncertainty for European security, Georgia Meloni is strongly intervening in the public debate from Yerevan, putting focus on critical foreign policy issues. The Italian Prime Minister referred to the contacts expected in Rome with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as the US-Italian strategic relationship and the role of Europe in a multi-crisis environment. At the same time, he sent a clear message in favour of strengthening the Atlantic alliance, rejecting scenarios of weakening the US presence in European defence. In the same context, he reiterated the issue of migration and the need for a common European strategy, stressing that the EU cannot face modern challenges in isolation.
“I expect to see Marco Rubio in Rome,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, on the sidelines of the European Political Community, which is underway in Yerevan, Armenia.
Rubio’s visit
As the Italian press reported yesterday, the US Secretary of State is set to visit the Vatican and Rome on May 7 and 8. He is expected to meet with the Pope, Vatican Prime Minister Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Italian foreign and defense ministers. His meeting with the Italian prime minister has not yet been officially set, but Meloni’s statement today suggests it is more than likely.
“I could not share a disengagement of the United States from Italy’s defense. I know that for a long time, this has been a subject of discussion in the United States,” the Rome leader added. At the same time, she recalled that “her country has always respected all its commitments on Iran and Afghanistan.”
“Some things that were said that concern us, I don’t think they are right. Nobody came to an official meeting of the Atlantic Alliance to ask us, to tell us something,” Meloni said.
Multiple Crisis
At the end of the proceedings of today’s summit, the Italian prime minister expressed the view that Europe “should focus more on relations with its neighbours, on the shores of the Mediterranean.” Always participating in a debate on “maintaining European unity and cohesion in a period of multiple crises”, moderated by the President of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides, Giorgia Meloni added that “uncontrolled migration flows are a hard test for the security of citizens and can even endanger the security of states”.
“This is a multiple crisis, because it is not only about migration, but also about economy, democracy, competitiveness, energy and security. We cannot deal with only one aspect of this multiple crisis. Migration is part of this crisis and nobody can deal with it alone. Cooperation in this context is clearly a prerequisite.”
