TORONTO – If it hadn’t been for the not exactly happy ending – with the reception canceled at the last moment – , the meeting between PMs Giorgia Meloni and Justin Trudeau would have been positive or, at least, far better than the one that saw them “arguing” over “LGBT rights denied in Italy”, as Trudeau said on that occasion (about a year ago) to a stunned Meloni. 

The face-to-face meeting between the two leaders was held in Toronto on Saturday morning (in the pic above, from www.governo.it).

“I will be very happy to have you at the G7 Leaders’ Summit that we will have in Puglia in June – Meloni said to Trudeau – : there, you can taste also a bit of the Italian traditions and so on”.

“I think you are right – Meloni said – when you say that there are many things that we are sharing and that we will have to share, and I am happy about that for you will be the next President of the G7, so it is important that we do work that can go on through the years. So, there are many results of the Japanese Presidency that I will be bringing through the Italian one, such as, for example, artificial intelligence and the role of the Indo-Pacific, but also the respect of the international rules-based order, so support to Ukraine, in this very difficult Middle East crisis, on which we also have to talk a lot, avoiding an escalation of the conflict. I was discussing that yesterday with Joe Biden too. And then, for example, as I was saying: artificial intelligence. I know it is a topic that we share, for it is a tool, but, as any one, it can be bad or good; it depends on how we govern it. So I’m concerned moreover about the impact that artificial intelligence, if we don’t govern it in the right way, could have on the labour market for example. So, I think it is a global issue that we have to discuss together. And I know that we are on the same path on many of these problems that we have to discuss in this very difficult era in which we are governing our countries.
And then, on the bilateral level, I’m very happy about the work we are doing today, for we are beginning a new era of our relationship, trying to enhance our cooperation. I think there are many, many topics on which we can do that, also for, as you know, we have this very big community here of Italian Canadians. So, next time, in an international meeting, I expect you to talk also a bit in Italian. So, we add another language, and I can help you on that if you want”. And after the “grazie!” (in Italian, “thank you!”) by Trudeau, Meloni offered Italian availability on all fronts: research, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, sustainable environmental transition.

After the meeting, the two leaders released a joint statement. Here below, the whole statement. 

“We, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Giorgia Meloni, met today in Toronto, Ontario, to reaffirm the profound friendship and the shared values that bind Canada and Italy and to discuss our shared interests, including to deliver sustainable prosperity for our citizens in a complex global environment.

We believe in the need to build the resilience of countries to manage global challenges. Canada and Italy can work strategically towards this goal.

As trading nations, Canada and Italy understand the importance of an effective rules-based order, and the benefits that derive from predictable, transparent, and accessible business environments. We welcome our strong and growing economic partnership that generates sustainable economic growth, jobs, and innovation in both our countries.

Canada and Italy enjoy a strong trade and investment relationship, with economies that are complementary and that benefit from the strength of small and medium sized enterprises. Italy is Canada’s 2nd largest trading partner in the European Union, with two-way trade reaching a record high of $15.8 billion in 2023. We also acknowledge the benefits to our relationship that come from a community of 1.6 million Canadians of Italian descent, who actively contribute to each of our landscapes.

Today, we have agreed to further deepen our political, economic, and strategic ties and elevate our already excellent bilateral relationship by committing to establish the Canada-Italy Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation. This Roadmap will set out ambitious, concrete plans to collaborate, over the next 3-5 years, in priority areas, including energy security and the shift to a sustainable energy future, climate change and biodiversity, migration, sustainable economic growth, and research and innovation, including on artificial intelligence.

Through closer ties and strategic alignment, this joint Roadmap will lay the foundation for a renewed and more energized partnership that will contribute to the prosperity of both Canada and Italy, and help us work together to advance shared goals on the global stage. We look forward to reviewing progress on the development of the Roadmap at our next meeting in Italy in June.

Today, we also discussed Italy’s G7 Presidency priorities and our joint commitment to addressing pressing global challenges and advancing our common objectives. As Italy holds the G7 Presidency in 2024, followed by Canada’s Presidency in 2025, we will work closely together to advance G7 priorities, including upholding the rules-based international order, grounded on the UN charter; protecting international peace and security; and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms. We will also work to advance common priorities on economic and supply chain resilience; governance of artificial intelligence and digital technology; environment, climate action and clean energy; and health and food security. We also look forward to continued discussions within the G7 on addressing irregular migration.

Canada and Italy will work together to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, including through development financing.  We are both committed to supporting inclusive growth and sustainable economic development in collaboration with our African partners. Canada welcomes Italy’s focus on Africa during its G7 Presidency and the objectives and priorities of the Mattei Plan announced at the recent Italy-Africa Summit.

As NATO Allies, G7, G20 and UN partners, we work in close partnership to address unprecedented global security, political and economic challenges and crises, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing conflicts and instability in Gaza and across the Middle East and the Red Sea. Canada and Italy continue to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, prosperous, secure, and based on the rule of law.”

So many nice words, as usual : we’ll see if it’s just fluff or if there will be concrete results.

The day before, Friday, again as part of the missions to present the priorities of the Italian Presidency of the G7 for 2024, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had a bilateral meeting in Washington with the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, who affectionately welcomed the Italian leader, giving her a kiss on the forehead, in perfect “grandfather Joe” style (in the photo below, from www.governo.it).

The meeting made it possible to take stock of the state of bilateral relations between the two Nations, in line with the joint declaration of last July. The discussion highlighted shared approaches to the most pressing global challenges. Here below, the whole Meloni’s speech to Biden. 

“I’m delighted to be here today in my capacity as G7 Chair, and I look forward, Joe, to hosting you in Puglia next June for the leaders’ summit. I’m working on a concrete and substantial G7 summit. We intend first and foremost to reaffirm the rules-based international order, defending freedom and building peace for Ukraine. And, in doing this, I think we need to tackle the narrative that wants “the West against the rest”. So, our dialogue within the G7 with the Global South is essential.  The crisis in the Middle East is of the utmost concern. We need to coordinate our actions in order to avoid an escalation and, in this regard, we fully support the US mediation efforts. The humanitarian crisis is our number one priority. Italy is concentrating its contribution on this. Meanwhile, we are cooperating with all regional actors that must be part of any future outcome. We should work together on concrete steps to guarantee the two-state perspective, which is the only long-term sustainable solution. And then, the Houthis’ attacks on commercial vessels that endanger freedom of navigation in the Red Sea are unacceptable. EU naval operation Aspides, that, as you know, is under Italian tactical command, is an important response to the disruption of transit through the Red Sea.

So, I think we did a good job but I also think that we can do even better, and I hope this will be our mutual goal for this year. Thank you, Joe.”