(Adnkronos) – Italy’s relations with the United States, and the main international conflicts including Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine will top the agenda during foreign minister Antonio Tajani’s visit to Washington on Tuesday, according to a foreign ministry statement.
During his visit, Tajani will hold talks with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, Senate foreign affairs committee chairman Jim Risch and US trade representative Jamieson Greer, the statement noted.
“The visit will centre on bilateral and transatlantic relations and key international challenges, starting with support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression,” read the statement.
The statement referenced last week’s Ukraine Recovery conference in Rome, in which the US took part. Conference guests made new financial commitments to Ukraine worth over 10 billion dollars and more than 200 agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed at the event for the war-shattered country’s reconstruction.
Tajani’s talks with US officials will also focus on the 30% tariffs US president Donald Trump threatened to impose on the European Union from 1 August in a letter at the weekend unless the bloc strikes a deal before that date, according to the statement.
“Italy’s government continues to work towards an agreement between the EU and the US that safeguards their respective economies and provides a clear framework within which our businesses can operate and continue to generate growth, employment, and prosperity,” said the statement.
The EU Commission has proposed pausing the EU’s first package of potential tariffs on 21 billion euros worth of US goods until 1 August, a move which Tajani called “wise” in an interview with Il Messaggero daily on Monday.
US negotiators were understood to be willing to continue previously promising negotiations with the EU, its trade chief Maros Sefcovic said, warning that the bloc would need to prepare for all outcomes, however, including possible counter-tariffs should the sides fail to reach a deal.
Libya’s stalled political process will be on the agenda at Tajani’s talks with Rubio. The talks will underline the need for new political input to stabilise the oil-rich country and to prevent further military conflict between the country’s rival factions, more illegal immigration human trafficking gangs becoming more powerful, said the statement.
With regard to Lebanon’s stability, Italy “underlines the need to keep up support for the UNIFIL mission,” the statement continued.
“The United Nations’ capabilities and presence in southern Lebanon need to be upheld and improved,” according to Tajani.
