Italian Prime Minister Meloni: Whether the U.S. withdraws its troops is not within her power to decide, but personally she does not agree
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended the "European Political Community Summit" held in Armenia, where she responded to media inquiries regarding the potential U.S. withdrawal of military forces stationed in NATO allied countries.
Recently, U.S. President Trump announced a reduction of 5,000 American troops stationed in Germany and hinted that Italy and Spain could be next targets. On the 4th, Italian Prime Minister Meloni stated: "The U.S. has been considering withdrawing from Europe for some time; Europe must strengthen its own security and enhance its capacity to respond. Whether or not the U.S. pulls out is not something I can decide, and personally, I do not support such a move."
Meloni emphasized that Italy has consistently fulfilled its obligations under the NATO framework, even when these missions did not directly involve Italian interests—such as participation in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. "I believe some statements directed at us are incorrect," she said.
Meloni confirmed she will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting Rome. According to the latest agenda released by the Italian Prime Minister's Office, Meloni is scheduled to meet with Rubio at 11:30 a.m. on the 8th.
On the 4th, Meloni attended the "European Political Community Summit," delivering remarks on the theme of "Maintaining European Unity and Cohesion During Multiple Crises."
According to a report by Central News Agency: Regarding immigration, Meloni stated that uncontrolled migration flows place pressure on citizens' safety, and if migrants are exploited for hybrid threats, national stability could be endangered. She added that immigration also affects the economy by straining public resources, disrupting labor markets, intensifying social tensions, and ultimately weakening competitiveness.
Meloni believes that problems arising from immigration also threaten democratic systems. When citizens feel their nation cannot effectively address major challenges, confidence in institutions erodes. As trust diminishes, people become more susceptible to manipulation—including being manipulated by malicious artificial intelligence (AI). "Therefore, the issue is not just about immigration—it involves economics, democracy, competitiveness, energy, and security."
Meloni stressed that no European country can face the multifaceted crises tied to immigration alone, and cooperation is essential. The EU will implement a new Pact on Migration and Asylum and is currently developing new return schemes. These measures will help encourage innovation, including exploring new proposals suggested by Italy.
Meloni noted that while the EU has demonstrated emergency response capabilities during recent crises such as the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, she believes it is now necessary to raise the strategic level—to shift from reactive responses to proactive leadership. This means we must place greater emphasis on long-term strategy.
Meloni stated that the EU’s strategy should not only focus on like-minded nations but also pay more attention to broader "geopolitical neighbors" around the Mediterranean region, integrating security, development, and energy into cooperation with neighboring countries.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864484991759360/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.