FROM OUR REPORTER FALMOUTH (Cornwall) The meeting with Biden “went very well”. The Prime Minister puts it on paper at the end of the face to face with the leader of the White House he had on the sidelines of the G7 summit. «Since the formation of the government – adds Draghi – I have been very clear that the two pillars of Italian foreign policy are Europeanism and Atlanticism. We agree with Biden on many issues: women, young people, defense of the least, human rights, civil rights, social rights and environmental protection which is the key theme of our G20 presidency ».
Few lines, very succinct, very few details. Due to a series of inconveniences, he skips the scheduled press point at the end of a 30-minute meeting with Joe Biden. Draghi’s staff limited themselves to spreading a few riche, on a succession of topics, which in theory also affect the relationship between the G7 states and China, one of the themes at the center of the second day of the summit. But it will only be American sources to underline that the two presidents have agreed to work together for the future on at least three hot fronts: Libya, Russia and finally, of course, Beijing.
Throughout the day, both American sources participating in the summit and sources from European institutions tell a story that is not confirmed by the Prime Minister’s delegation: both he and Merkel would have proved colder, or moderates, of the other members of the G7, on Washington’s proposals against Beijing.
It seems that at some point the discussion has become so delicate that the internet has been blocked, at least in the room that housed the seven leaders. For sure both Draghi and Merkel have raised some objections to the creation of a multilateral task force, starting with the members of the G7, to face the challenges coming from Beijing. While there has been full membership, both from Italy and Germany, on the condemnation of human rights violations in China, together with the condemnation of forced labor for the Muslim minority of Uyghurs.
In short, the meeting with Biden seems to have taken on a very light, almost personal look at the end of a day of intense work. After all, the comparison between the 7 was very close. The United States has proposed an antagonistic plan with respect to the new Silk Road promoted by Beijing, a $ 40 trillion plan within just over a decade to strengthen the infrastructure of developing countries, and the project is expected to be endorsed by all G7 members in today’s final conclusions.
In the end Biden and Draghi found themselves face to face almost for a moment of relaxation and relaxation, outside the cottage of the American president, on the beach of Carbis Bay. A note of color: the tenant of the White House associated above all with his love for Italy a predilection for Capri. Draghi replied in this way: “Consider having a permanent invitation.” So a more political seal: the prime minister thanked Joe Biden for his commitment to Europe, for changing the course of American foreign policy, re-embraced multilateralism, which allows Western countries to be more united and synergistic towards both Russia and China.
And the pro-Atlanticism declared by Draghi since his first speech in Parliament, after the oath, was once again underlined in the farewell words from the head of the government, at the end of the day: “The Italian political framework often changes – said the premier a Biden – but certain things like our deep alliance with the United States they never change ».
June 12, 2021 (change June 12, 2021 | 23:33)
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