Foreign Pool Report #2 / Meloni's quotes at the pool spray

PM Meloni’s quotes at the pool spray before lunch in the Cabinet Room (please check against the official transcript):

Q: Prime Minister, you have said that the President's tariffs are wrong. Do you, should the European Union still believe that the United States is a reliable trade partner?

A: Well, I'm here exactly to make the West stronger. For I believe in the West unity. And I think simply, we have to talk and find ourselves in the best middle way to grow together. That's why I'm here. If I wouldn't think it's a reliable partner, I wouldn't be here,

Q: How quickly can you raise your defense, Prime Minister?

A: Well, Italy is going to the next summit of the NATO, announcing that it raised 2% as was requestes.

Q: Is 2% enough?

A: Europe as you know is committed to do more, is working on tools to allow and help the member states in increasing the defense spending. And we are convinced that everyone has to do more.

Q: Prime Minister, the retaliatory tariffs that the European Commission passed and then suspended, are they still on the table if you cannot make a deal with President Trump?

A: I'm sure we can make a deal, and I'm here to help on that. I cannot lock this deal in the name of the European Union. My goal would be to invite President Trump to pay an official visit to Italy and understand if there's a possibility when it comes to organize also such a meeting with Europe. For I think the best way is that we simply speak frankly about the needs that every one of us has, and finding ourselves a needle. That's useful for all I. Really somebody calls me such a Western nationalism. I don't know if it is the right word, but I'm sure that together, we are stronger. And I have to find a way. I'm here to find the best way to make us both stronger on the two shores of the Atlantic.

Michael Scherer

Staff Writer

The Atlantic

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