“Matteo, you are on the right path of reforms”. In the meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, the American president Barack Obama spared no time in praising and appreciating the Italian premier Matteo Renzi.
Obama said he was "impressed by Renzi's energy and vision" who responded by praising Obama's leadership and arguing that "America's growth is a model for Europe" where "something didn't work because with the austerity is going nowhere and a new season of growth and investment is needed. We started in 2014 but there is still a lot to do”.
New investments, it emerged in the face-to-face meeting between Obama and Renzi, could be freed from the TTIP, the free trade agreement between Europe and the USA, which the Italian premier has indicated as "a major objective" with respect to which Italy is “pushing with great determination”.
During Renzi's first visit to the White House, all the main current international issues were addressed. Renzi did not hide his concern for Greece ("It is important to find an agreement and respect the Greek people") and Obama echoed him: "Matteo is right: Greece must start making important reforms and making tough decisions" .
On Libya, the prime minister said that Italy is ready to assume "diplomatic leadership" to restore normalcy by isolating terrorism. But "it's not just a matter of drones," said the American president.
On Ukraine "we support the Minsk agreements" they declared together but Obama specified that for the US the anti-Russia sanctions must remain until "the implementation of Minsk has not taken place completely" just as, for the US president, they must sanctions against Iran "until a definitive agreement is reached".
Finally, on Afghanistan, "Italy – Renzi said – is at the side of the United States in a major challenge which will lead, for example, to our troops staying in Afghanistan for months longer than previously imagined".
