“We greatly appreciate Prime Minister Draghi’s leadership in the effort to make Europe more independent from an energy point of view.” This statement issued to Republic by Amanda Sloat, director for Europe at the National Security Council of the White House, clarifies the objectives of tomorrow’s summit between the Italian premier and President Joe Biden. Above all on gas, Washington is banking on Rome, so that with sources in Africa, the Caucasus and the Middle East it can help the entire continent move towards independence from Russia.
“More weapons to Ukraine”. Biden’s agenda for Draghi’s journey
by our correspondent Paolo Mastrolilli
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Sloat prepared the dossier of the meeting, and added the other fundamental points: «Ukraine is a topic that they have discussed numerous times in the last two and a half months, since the beginning of the war. They have a lot of shared interests and approaches to the conflict ”. It means two things. The first is the continuation of military supplies to Kiev, starting with the heavy weapons on which Rome is working, to curb the Russian offensive and create the most favorable conditions for a diplomatic solution, when Putin agrees to pursue it. The second is the increase in economic pressure on Moscow: “The president appreciated everything that the premier and Italy have done in terms of support for strong sanctions within the EU against Moscow, humanitarian assistance and security , to support the Ukrainian people ». Then Sloat adds: “The US and the EU have worked closely to ensure that we maintain coordination on sanctions, and continue to increase the pressure and costs on Russia for her aggression.” Observing Hungary obstructing the oil ban, the White House acknowledges that some EU countries have more complex geographical conditions, but reiterates Biden’s commitment in Brussels with the task force aimed at solving the problem, working with American producers and partners around the world to diversify crude oil and gas supplies.
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Sloat stresses that “strengthening ties with the EU has been one of President Biden’s top priorities since he took office,” and thus broadens the significance of the meeting with Draghi. Washington realizes the need to foster economic prosperity and tackle the hardship in democracies at their roots, in order to equip them to respond to the challenges of autocracies, including China.
The fight against climate change, post Covid and the risks of a global food crisis are also central themes in Draghi’s agenda, in view of an interview that Italian sources announce as “very political”. We will move in the wake of a “solid transatlantic link”, but in the first visit to the White House the premier will also bring the commitment to promote a strong European initiative starting from the Ukrainian crisis. The horizon is diplomatic work with partners – Italy, France and Germany at the forefront – to relaunch peace negotiations. In the immediate future, the premier moves strongly with actions which, underlined at Palazzo Chigi, since the beginning of the war have given credibility and substance to the Italian position. After having marked a clear break with respect to the years of pro-Putinism, Draghi has in fact put the ministers to work for independence from Moscow gas.
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With direct commitment also Eni, led by Claudio Descalzi, who will be in Washington at the same time as the premier. It is planned to replace 78% of Russian methane in 2023, 100% in 2024. In the next six months the regasification capacity will also be strengthened and it will become more important, it is pointed out, to receive greater quantities of liquid gas from the US, also crucial players. on oil. The commitment to diversification, underline at Palazzo Chigi, places Italy in the forefront of the EU and is the guarantee that Rome will not oppose any energy sanctions. On the contrary, it supports measures, such as the gas price cap, to limit Putin’s resources. While he continues to give strength to Kiev with direct aid (over 300 million, ready to do more) and the dispatch of weapons: action on several fronts not held back by the internal political fringe.