2023-04-27 21:00:59
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni today signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding between the two countries outlining cooperation on defence, immigration and climate change.
The document highlights the “global security” and the plans for “stop illegal immigration” as the two main challenges that London and Rome hope to tackle together, after which he breaks down aspects such as “improve energy security, address climate change and biodiversity loss, uphold democracy and human rights and the rule of law.”
Sunak received Meloni at his official residence at 10 Downing Street and stressed in statements to the media that the values of both governments are “very aligned”.
The head of the Italian Executive praised the United Kingdom’s migration policy: “Dealing with traffickers and illegal immigration is something that your government is doing very well,” maintained the president.
After the meeting between the conservative Sunak and Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy, Downing Street published the thirteen-page memorandum which they both signed.
The document makes explicit that this bilateral agreement is “complementary“to the link that the United Kingdom and Italy maintain through the Cooperation and Trade Agreement that governs the relationship between the British Government and the countries of the European Union (EU) after Brexit.
The collaboration between London and Rome in defense is especially close since they began a joint project, with the collaboration of Japan, to design their next generation of combat aircraft.
Today’s agreement further highlights their shared positions on the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Indo-Pacific and relations with China.
“We call on China to fulfill its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, including not supporting Russia in the illegal war in Ukraine.”emphasizes the document.
Regarding immigration, both countries assure that they will work together to “protect the borders, the lives of innocent victims of human smugglers and safety on the European continent“.
“We will promote ways to share information, intelligence and experience” regarding “the challenges we share in the face of irregular immigration”details the agreement.
It also highlights that the two countries will promote “a broad dialogue on the fight against climate change and the loss of biodiversity”as well as measures to “permanently end dependence on Russian hydrocarbons.”
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