[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3561-S3562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI

  Mr. McCONNELL. Now, on a different matter, tomorrow, Prime Minister 
Meloni of Italy will visit Washington for a series of meetings. I look 
forward to welcoming her to the Capitol at an important time for our 
two countries' friendship and for Italy's role in the transatlantic 
alliance.
  Prime Minister Meloni took office as Europe faced its first large-
scale land war in decades and Italy faced the increasing economic 
vulnerabilities of reliance on China. By all accounts, she has 
addressed these challenges head-on.

[[Page S3562]]

The Prime Minister has repeatedly asserted Italy's commitment to 
helping Ukraine beat Russian aggression and rebuild its economy. 
Importantly, like some leaders, she has done so with refreshing clarity 
to the Italian people about their own country's concrete interest in 
helping Ukraine defend itself.
  Earlier this spring, in an address to the Italian Senate, Prime 
Minister Meloni summed up the reality. She said:

       We are also sending [arms] to the Ukrainians to prevent the 
     possibility of having to use them ourselves one day. We are 
     sending arms to Ukraine also to keep the war far away from 
     the rest of Europe and our home.

  Not vaguely defining philanthropy; just cold, hard investments in our 
own security.
  At the NATO summit in Vilnius earlier this month, Italy's leader 
rightly declared:

       Our freedom has a cost. . . . [W]hat is invested in defence 
     comes back tenfold, a hundredfold, in terms of our ability to 
     defend our national interests.

  Secretary General Stoltenberg has recognized the Prime Minister's 
``strong, personal commitment to NATO, [and] to our trans-Atlantic 
alliance.''
  And the Italian Government has expressed its intention to accelerate 
progress toward the alliance's 2-percent defense spending program. I 
hope and expect to see Italy and all NATO allies meet this goal.
  This shift in Italy's approach to defense and security policy 
reflects what allies have recognized across Europe: that the long 
holiday from history is over, and their investments and hard power are 
overdue.
  But as Prime Minister Meloni meets with President Biden tomorrow, it 
is important to remember that our shared interests extend beyond 
Europe. Italy is rightly concerned about growing instability, 
terrorism, and migration flows in Africa--yet another area where 
Russian and Chinese influence has played a corrosive and threatening 
role. America has a shared interest in keeping pressure on the global 
terrorist resurgence that has followed the disastrous withdrawal from 
Afghanistan.
  I am also encouraged that the Italian government is unraveling its 
involvement with China's so-called Belt and Road Initiative, another 
indication our European allies are taking steps to protect themselves 
against China's economic force.
  So if we are serious about competition with the PRC, we need to work 
more closely with allies and partners who share our interest in 
preserving a world of free and fair trade and secure supply chains.
  I am hopeful that President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni have a 
productive meeting tomorrow. I look forward to discussing our two 
nations' common challenges and priorities with her directly.
  In the meantime, I am hopeful our colleagues will continue to work 
diligently to provide for common defense and equip America and our 
allies to meet and deter common threats.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection.

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