Italy’s foreign minister said on Monday that a constructive dialogue between the European Union and the United States must begin and Rome can play a positive role in this, Italian media reported.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, where he was attending a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Antonio Tajani said that it is crucial that the EU sees the US as its key ally, regardless of who is at the helm in Washington.
Tajani stressed that a constructive dialogue needs to begin and Italy can play a very positive role by acting as a bridge between Brussels and Washington, as former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi did with former US President George W. Bush Jr.
Speaking about the risk of the EU acting in a disjointed manner towards the Trump administration, he said Europe was “partly” to blame. He said the EU should be able to serve as a strong pillar of a strategic alliance, adding that less bureaucracy and more action is needed.
Turning to the issue of Gaza, Tajani welcomed the EU’s decision to relocate the European Union Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah border crossing (EUBAM Rafah) between Gaza and Egypt.
A Foreign Ministry statement said that in addition to the two Italian nationals currently serving with EUBAM, seven gendarmerie soldiers will take part in the operation.
