A transatlantic rift emerges as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blasts President Donald Trump’s disparagement of NATO’s Afghanistan role. On X, she conveyed Rome’s shock at suggestions that allies shied away from full U.S. backing in the extended campaign.
Central to her defense was NATO’s landmark post-9/11 action: activating Article 5 for the first time, a profound show of unity with America.
Italy’s engagement was exemplary, with thousands deployed and leadership of Regional Command West. The price tag included 53 lives lost and 700-plus wounded over two decades of frontline duties, from battles to Afghan troop training.
Meloni deemed these understatements indefensible from a key partner, invoking the historic Rome-Washington bond built on respect—the essence of NATO solidarity.
Delivered during a January 22 Davos interview, Trump’s words implied allies hung back from dangers and cast doubt on their loyalty. Meloni’s response calls for renewed appreciation of shared burdens, vital for navigating today’s security challenges.