“THE UNITED STATES NEEDS EUROPE AND ITALY”
Earlier than seeing Meloni, Rubio met Italy’s International Minister Antonio Tajani, who mentioned he hoped the go to had helped calm tensions with america.
“I’m satisfied Europe wants America, Italy wants America, but in addition that america wants Europe and Italy,” Tajani instructed reporters.
In addition to the battle within the Gulf, Meloni additionally mentioned she discussed with Rubio Russia’s battle on Ukraine and Trump’s go to to China subsequent week.
The Italians had been additionally eager for a readout on Rubio’s conferences on the Vatican. Trump’s latest assaults on Pope Leo crossed a delicate line in overwhelmingly Catholic Italy and prompted Meloni to name them “unacceptable”.
Her criticism in flip drew a pointy rebuke from Trump, who mentioned she lacked braveness. He subsequently threatened to withdraw US troops from Italy.
Rubio mentioned he did not get into specifics about US bases, saying it was a choice for Trump to make.
Italy final month refused to permit US plane to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for fight operations linked to the Iran battle. Italian officers mentioned Washington had not sought prior authorisation from Rome for the use of the location.
Rubio didn’t point out this incident, however pointed to Spain’s resolution to not permit its bases or airspace to be used to assault Iran. He mentioned one of many predominant points of interest of NATO for the US was to have forces in Europe that could possibly be swiftly deployed elsewhere.
“Now that is now not the case, at the least in relation to some NATO members, that is an issue and must be examined,” he mentioned.
