(ANSA) - WASHINGTON, APRIL 13 - "Italy is a candidate to have a strategic role in view of energy independence from Russia. Thanks to its position in the center of the Mediterranean, it can act as a link with the supply of natural gas from North African countries to the north of the world".
Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said this when he met the US secretary for economic growth, energy and the environment, Jose Fernandez, on the sidelines of the work of the International Monetary Fund.
Meetings to which Giorgetti arrived with the Defapprovato and during which he had a whirlwind of meetings from which, according to some sources, a US interest in Italy's position on China emerged in the background.
The Silk Road agreement is about to expire and the Italian government will have to decide whether to renew or revoke it.
Giorgetti's political history and past decisions indicate that the road to renewal is all uphill and that the agreement may not be renewed, the sources continue, however highlighting that the decision rests with the government as a whole.
In formal and informal meetings within the G7 and G20, the Economy Minister also raised, I add some sources, the issue of defense spending for international missions such as Ukraine, which Italy proposes not to calculate as debt in the new governance European.
A theme also felt by other countries.
(HANDLE).