Meloni stated that she does not believe in the possibility of the US seizing Greenland by military means.
Giorgia Meloni ruled out the possibility of a military takeover of Greenland by Washington and called for strengthening the role of NATO in In the Arctic, AP reports. Thus, she directly went against Trump, one of her close allies, according to the agency's material.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday that she did not believe that the United States would resort to military force to seize Greenland, and also called for a stronger role for NATO in the Arctic region to address U.S. security concerns.
Speaking at a press conference, Meloni said that military action in Greenland would not serve anyone's interests and would have serious consequences for NATO.
"I still don't believe in a scenario in which the United States would take military action to control Greenland," Meloni said, stressing that Italy would not support such a move.
The White House said on Tuesday that the administration of US President Donald Trump is discussing various options, which may include military action to establish control over the island, which has a strategic location and is rich in minerals, as well as being a semi-autonomous region of Denmark, a member of NATO.
"I think that the Trump administration, using quite persistent methods, primarily seeks to emphasize the strategic importance of Greenland and the Arctic for its interests and security," Meloni said. "This is a region where many foreign players are active, and I continue to believe that the United States is sending a signal that it will not allow excessive interference from foreign players."
The Italian prime minister stressed that a significant NATO presence in the region would help reduce Washington's concerns about the activity of hostile states that are increasing their influence in the Arctic.
Meloni is considered one of Trump's closest allies in Europe, which is trying to act as an intermediary between the often conflicting interests of the United States and the European Union.
The Italian leader said it was clear to everyone that any U.S. military invasion of Greenland would have a significant impact on NATO.
Since his first term as president, Trump has been pushing the idea of buying Greenland from Denmark. But after the US military action in Venezuela last weekend, he renewed calls to seize Greenland, justifying them for "strategic reasons."
The leaders of Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain defended Greenland's sovereignty along with Denmark, whose right to the island was recognized by the U.S. government in the early 20th century.
"I believe that international law should be fully protected," Meloni said. "But I don't understand what you're asking when you say that Italy should distance itself from the United States," she added, answering a question about Trump's aggressive policy.
Meloni stressed that Italy's foreign policy is based on two pillars: Europe and the North Atlantic Alliance.
"Of course, I don't always agree with everything my allies say. The interests of the countries do not always completely coincide," she stressed.
