Biden met Italy’s Meloni to discuss China and Ukraine.
While the two sides agree to work together on Ukraine, the White House downplayed the disagreement over China and LGBTQ rights. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was praised by US President Joe Biden for her support of Ukraine, while the White House downplayed a disagreement over his hard-right government’s views on China, immigration, abortion, and LGBTQ rights.
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In a meeting with the Italian president on Thursday, Biden said the US and Italy were “standing firmly” with Ukraine and Meloni’s government had provided “very strong support” against Russian atrocities. Biden began his conversation in the Oval Office by saying, “And I thank the Italian people.” “I want to express my gratitude to Ukraine and your support. It changes everything to a great extent. Meloni declared that he was “proud” of Italy’s support for Ukraine. His government has been criticized for being the first far-right government in Italy after World War II.
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He said that the Western world has demonstrated that it can rely on each other more than some had believed, adding that we know who our friends are in difficult times. According to him, the two leaders talked about Italy’s participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but Washington’s strategy was not to impose itself.
In contrast to previous comments in which he expressed concern about the effects of Meloni’s election last year on democracy and foreign alliances such as NATO, Biden warmly welcomed the Italian president.
Meloni has condemned mass immigration, restricted gay parental rights, and lauded extreme right-wing political organizations in Poland and Spain. His Brothers of Italy party has had ties to Benito Mussolini’s fascist movement in the past.
Meloni has denied claims that his party is fascist and has surprised some observers by taking a more moderate stance on controversial issues such as immigration than his critics have expected.
Meloni told reporters on Thursday that a close alliance with Republicans should not stand in the way of having a “great relationship” with Biden.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby downplayed the political turmoil surrounding Meloni.
According to Kirby, it is a democracy, so the Italian people have the right to choose their own government. The President accepts it.
Kirby refrained from commenting on the disagreement over China, instead saying the two leaders talked about “shared concerns, perspectives, and challenges” concerning the nation.
After their meeting, the two presidents vowed to support Ukraine in the future and to further their discussions on “the opportunities and challenges presented by the People’s Republic of China”.
Italy joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2019, a trillion-dollar infrastructure initiative aimed at building a new Silk Road linking Asia and Europe, becoming the first G7 nation to do so Went.
Italy’s involvement in the project is being debated by Meloni; If neither party withdraws, it will automatically renew for the next year. Meloni has argued that Rome can maintain positive relations with China without compromise.