Politico | US more important ally for Italy than China, foreign minister says
- Luigi Di Maio said Sino-Italian commercial ties ‘are absolutely incomparable with’ Rome’s alliance with Washington
- The US has expressed concern over Italy’s links to China, particularly after a previous government signed up to Beijing’s belt and road infrastructure plan
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Hannah Roberts on politico.eu on June 28, 2021.
During a news conference in Rome standing beside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Di Maio said Sino-Italian commercial ties “are absolutely incomparable with” Italy’s alliance with the US as well as partnerships with Nato and the EU.
But since Mario Draghi became Italian Prime Minister in February, leading a so-called government of national unity, the former European Central Bank chief has been emphasising the country’s commitment to its transatlantic relationship.
“Let me be very clear,” Di Maio said, Italy’s alliances with the US, Nato and the EU “are not just strategic alliances, but alliances of values which allow our democracy to confront issues such as violations of human rights.”