Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirms Italy’s Atlanticism, brings it closer to the United States post Berlusconi’s death.

The recent death of Silvio Berlusconi, known for his pro-American positions, further distances Italy from Russia and brings it closer than ever to the United States. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently presented two conditions to be part of her government: Europe and Atlanticism.

Ms Meloni made the remarks shortly after Mr Berlusconi’s controversial statements about Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, adding that anyone who disagrees with his views on the EU and US “is excluded”.

“Mr. Berlusconi has always been on the side of the West, a support in relations with the United States and Israel. The government of Ms. Meloni continues on this path and confirms the Atlanticism of the Italian government”political philosopher Corrado Ocone told EURACTIV.

However, Ms. Meloni has not always shared NATO policies. In 2016, for example, she criticized the decision to deploy troops, including Italian troops, to Latvia in 2018 and held then Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to account.

“This is nonsense worthy of Barack Obama’s failed foreign policy. Europe and Italy have no interest in creating a cold war climate with Russia”she wrote on social media.

Today, however, Ms Meloni not only agrees with all NATO decisions regarding the war in Ukraine, but also seems to have a very good relationship with current US President Joe Biden, despite the political distance. and the criticisms she made of him before he came to power.

“We want to be allies and not subjects. I am not happy to hear US President Joe Biden say that sanctions [contre la Russie] will only have a minimal influence on the Americans. Here, in Italy, the consequences will be maximum. It is a question of distributing the charges and the honours. We will not serve as mules to the West”Ms. Meloni said from the stage of a gathering of the Brothers from Italy in Milan in April 2022.

The first meeting between Ms Meloni and Mr Biden took place at the G7 in Hiroshima, Japan, and was immortalized by a popular photo in which Mr Biden held hands with the Italian Prime Minister. In addition, Ms. Meloni’s first official visit to the United States seems to be scheduled for July, eight months after her inauguration at Palazzo Chigi.

“We are working on the organization of Ms. Meloni’s visit to the United States in July. The Prime Minister will meet with President Joe Biden to strengthen the partnership between the United States and Italy. There is a common vision between Italy and the United States, which is our main ally in the world”said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia/EPP) during his visit to Washington on Monday (12 June), during which he met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Italy’s proximity to the United States also seems to be an obstacle to the renewal of the Silk Road agreement with Xi Jinping’s China. This agreement was signed in March 2019 by former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (5-Star Movement) under the “yellow-green” government with the League of Matteo Salvini, today in government with Ms. Meloni.

“Coherence would dictate that this agreement not be renewed today, even if this creates economic and diplomatic problems”explains Mr. Ocone, who recalls that the League criticized the agreement with China from the start, when the party was part of the government.

Ms Meloni will have to decide by the end of the year how to proceed as the deal, if not renewed by the Italian government, will expire in March 2024.