Elon Musk’s endorsement, the meeting with Volodymir Zelensky and the commitment to remain alongside Kiev “for as long as necessary”, Joe Biden’s invitation to speak at the Summit of the Global Coalition against the threat of synthetic drugs: this concludes the three days of Giorgia Meloni for the UN general assembly in New York, sealed by a speech at the UN Palace to outline Italy’s point of view on the main themes of the international agenda, starting from the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. And on the great global challenges, such as the management of migratory flows and the fight against mass illegal immigration, the fight against international crime, the development of artificial intelligence. Without forgetting the initiatives of the Italian presidency of the G7, the new approach of equal relations launched by Italy towards Africa (with the Mattei plan) and the need to build a new relationship with the Global South. A mission in which he had various bilateral meetings (including one with Erdogan) and met the CEOs of Google, Motorola and Open Ai to discuss their investment plans in Italy. And which will have a queue on Wednesday with a video link from Rome for a “Ukraine event” at the UN aimed at reiterating the international community’s support for Kiev against the Russian invasion. Meloni, who had decided to return to Italy immediately after his speech at the United Nations, will therefore skip the traditional reception offered by host Biden to world leaders at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was also deserted last year.
But the prime minister seems to have at least partially dispelled any speculation about a slow distancing from Zelensky and Biden in view of the American elections. Speculation fueled by the choice to have the Atlantic Council’s “Global Citizen Award 2024” delivered on Monday evening by a fervent supporter of Donald Trump: Elon Musk, who defined her as a person “even more beautiful inside than outside”, “honest, true, authentic”, praising his “incredible work as prime minister, with record growth and employment”. However, Meloni was very clear on Kiev and on the defense of Western values against autocracies and authoritarian regimes, as she highlighted in her speech. speech for the award, where he cited (in addition to Michael Jackson and Giuseppe Prezzolini) Ronald Reagan to remind us that freedom “is a weapon that our adversaries in today’s world do not have and the one they fear most”. Italy – he said – stands firmly alongside those who defend their freedom and sovereignty, not only because it is right to do so, but also because it is in the interests of Italy and the West to prevent a future in which the law of the most prevails strong”.
And the next day he met Zelensky, reiterating Italy’s convinced support for Ukraine’s legitimate defense, with the aim of creating the best possible conditions for a just and lasting peace, as well as ensuring that our country will continue to be on the front line also in 2025 with the organization of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome and will be at Ukraine’s side for as long as necessary. Words that received applause from the Ukrainian leader: «it is always a pleasure to meet Giorgia Meloni. On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, we agreed on our next joint plans. I am grateful to Giorgia for all the decisive steps taken by the G7 under the Italian presidency and for her commitment to promoting joint efforts to establish a lasting and just peace”, he wrote on . Furthermore, at Biden’s direct invitation, the prime minister spoke at the summit of the global coalition against the threat of synthetic drugs, of which Italy is among the most active nations. «We oppose all types of drugs: there is no right to drugs. I want to send a clear message: drugs destroy people’s lives and institutions must do everything they can to combat drug production and trafficking”, said Meloni, the first foreign leader to speak after the US president, who organized the event on the sidelines of the UN general assembly.