President Trump thanked Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni for their country’s efforts in combating terrorism during his visit, the White House said Wednesday.
“The leaders discussed the alliance between the United States and Italy, as well as priorities in the areas of defense cooperation, counterterrorism and efforts to deny terrorists safe havens from Mali to Libya to Iraq to Afghanistan,” the White House said in a statement. Trump met separately with the president and prime minister in Italy on Wednesday.
Trump is on his first foreign trip as president and has visited Saudi Arabia, Israel and Rome already. He is in Brussels for meetings with European officials on Wednesday.
“President Trump thanked Italy for its contributions to global counterterrorism efforts, especially its participation in the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS and its active role in Iraq and Afghanistan,” the statement said. “He also complimented Italy on its important diplomatic efforts to end the violence in Libya.”
After visiting with Pope Francis, Trump met with Mattarella at Quirinal Palace and Gentiloni at Villa Taverna. The president also discussed Russia during his conversations.
“President Trump reaffirmed transatlantic unity in holding Russia accountable for its actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, and noted the importance of convincing Russia to fulfill its commitments under the Minsk Agreements,” the White House said.
The statement said Trump also discussed the upcoming G-7 summit in Sicily later this week, the last leg of Trump’s foreign trip.
