Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani is on a three-day mission (July 9-11) to Washington, where he will attend – together with Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto – the Heads of State and Government Summit of the North Atlantic Alliance. On this occasion, the Allies will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty and the establishment of the Alliance.
“The Washington Summit will serve to renew the Allies’ message of unity and cohesion in support of Ukraine, which the Italian G7 Presidency has put at the heart of its agenda,” Tajani said, pointing out that “it will be important to ensure that the commitment to a gradual and sustainable increase in defence spending is accompanied by due consideration for Italy’s contribution in terms of men and resources to NATO missions”.
“In addition to focusing on Ukraine and cooperating with Indo-Pacific partners, we want NATO to devote equal energy to the Southern Flank, as we need to pursue a 360-degree approach to Euro-Atlantic security, in line with the Strategic Concept,” commented the Minister.
On Thursday 11 July, Tajani will also be chairing a G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting focusing on the situation in the Middle East, in line with the constant attention given to the region by the Italian G7 Presidency. A discussion on the continuing instability in the Red Sea, which will also be the focus of the Trade Ministers’ meeting in Reggio Calabria and Villa San Giovanni scheduled for next week (16-17 July), will also be held.
The Deputy Prime Minister will also attend a working dinner for Foreign Ministers on 10 July, which will be hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and will be attended by the Ministers of NATO partner countries and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
