Italian Foreign Minister: a response to Trump was necessary for respect for the country

Italy had to respond to US President Donald Trump's words to Prime Minister Giorgi Meloni. This was stated by the head of the Italian Foreign Ministry Antonio Tajani, reports Il Giornale.

“This is inexplicable, perhaps a red herring. We had to respond, we deserve respect, and we responded,” the minister noted, commenting on the scandal with the American leader.

The minister recalled that Italy is the country with the largest number of soldiers in NATO missions around the world, including in defense of the West. “We are a model country and we are also increasing spending on the alliance,” he said.

Tajani explained that he marked his visit to Miami to give "a decisive response to the insult not only of the Prime Minister, but of all of Italy."

“Trump, of course, did not address [Russian President Vladimir] Putin or anyone else in this way, as he did with Meloni,” the head of the Italian Foreign Ministry emphasized.

Trump previously said that Meloni “begged” him for a joint photo during the G7 summit in France. The head of the White House emphasized that he was not obliged to do this, but he felt sorry for her and agreed. The Italian Prime Minister called this claim “completely fictitious,” and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani canceled his planned trip to the United States.