Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni believes President-elect Donald Trump's comments about potentially using military force to seize Greenland and the Panama Canal were not literal threats, but rather a warning to other global powers, particularly China. Meloni, who recently met with Trump, interpreted his statements as part of a broader geopolitical debate, not a prelude to military action.
Meloni's perspective contrasts with some analysts who view Trump's rhetoric as potentially emboldening adversaries, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and China's assertive stance regarding Taiwan. She emphasized increased Chinese involvement in the Panama Canal and Greenland as a key factor behind Trump's comments.
Furthermore, Meloni's press conference also addressed the recent release of an Italian journalist, Cecilia Sala, from Iranian detention. She underscored the crucial "triangulation" between Italy, Iran, and the United States as instrumental in securing Sala's release, publicly acknowledging Washington's involvement in the negotiations for the first time.
The Sala case is interconnected with the detention of an Iranian engineer in Italy, wanted by the U.S. in connection with a 2024 drone attack in Jordan that killed American soldiers. This complex situation highlights the intricate web of international relations and diplomatic efforts.
