US Considers Reducing Troops in Italy; Meloni: Disagrees but Not My Decision
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated her personal disagreement with the US considering reducing its troops in Italy, but acknowledged it's not her decision. She emphasized Italy's commitment to NATO obligations and also addressed migration issues and the risks of AI manipulating public opinion.
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- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 08:30
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(Central News Agency reporter Huang Ya-shi, Rome, 4th) US President Trump recently announced a reduction of 5,000 US troops stationed in Germany and hinted that Italy and Spain might be the next targets. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated today, "This is not something I can decide, and I personally do not agree with it." She emphasized that Italy has always upheld its commitments within the NATO framework.
Meloni attended the "European Political Community Summit" held in Armenia today. In response to media questions, she said that the US has been considering withdrawing troops from Europe for some time, and Europe must strengthen its own security and improve its response capabilities. She added that whether the US withdraws troops is not something she can decide, and she personally does not agree with it.
Meloni stated that Italy has always fulfilled its obligations within the NATO framework, even when Italian interests were not directly involved, such as participating in missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. "I believe some comments directed at us are not correct."
Meloni confirmed that she will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting Rome. According to the latest agenda released by the Italian Prime Minister's Office, Meloni is scheduled to meet Rubio at 11:30 AM on the 8th.
Meloni attended the "European Political Community Summit" today and delivered a speech on the theme of "Maintaining European Unity and Cohesion in Times of Multiple Crises."
Meloni focused on the "migration issue," stating that uncontrolled migration flows put pressure on citizen security, and if migrants are used for hybrid threats, it could even endanger national stability. She added that migration issues also affect the economy, squeeze public resources, impact the labor market, exacerbate social tensions, and thus weaken competitiveness.
Meloni believes that problems caused by migration affect democratic systems because when citizens feel that the state cannot effectively respond to important challenges, they lose confidence in the system. When trust is eroded, people are more easily manipulated, including by malicious artificial intelligence (AI). "So the problem is not just migration, but also involves the economy, democracy, competitiveness, energy, and security."
Meloni emphasized that no European country can face the multiple crises involved in migration alone; cooperation is a prerequisite. The EU will implement a new Pact on Migration and Asylum and is also developing new repatriation schemes, which will help stimulate innovation, including trying new proposals suggested by Italy.
Meloni continued by saying that although the EU has demonstrated emergency response capabilities in facing the pandemic and the war in Ukraine in recent years, "I believe that now we must raise our game; we must shift from passively reacting to proactively shaping the situation. This means we must pay more attention to long-term strategy."
Meloni stated that the EU strategy should not only focus on like-minded countries but also pay more attention to the "geopolitical neighbors" around the vast Mediterranean, incorporating security, development, and energy into cooperation with neighboring countries. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150505
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Ya-shi, Rome, 4th) US President Trump recently announced a reduction of 5,000 US troops stationed in Germany and hinted that Italy and Spain might be the next targets. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated today, "This is not something I can decide, and I personally do not agree with it." She emphasized that Italy has always upheld its commitments within the NATO framework.
Meloni attended the "European Political Community Summit" held in Armenia today. In response to media questions, she said that the US has been considering withdrawing troops from Europe for some time, and Europe must strengthen its own security and improve its response capabilities. She added that whether the US withdraws troops is not something she can decide, and she personally does not agree with it.
Meloni stated that Italy has always fulfilled its obligations within the NATO framework, even when Italian interests were not directly involved, such as participating in missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. "I believe some comments directed at us are not correct."
Meloni confirmed that she will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting Rome. According to the latest agenda released by the Italian Prime Minister's Office, Meloni is scheduled to meet Rubio at 11:30 AM on the 8th.
Meloni attended the "European Political Community Summit" today and delivered a speech on the theme of "Maintaining European Unity and Cohesion in Times of Multiple Crises."
Meloni focused on the "migration issue," stating that uncontrolled migration flows put pressure on citizen security, and if migrants are used for hybrid threats, it could even endanger national stability. She added that migration issues also affect the economy, squeeze public resources, impact the labor market, exacerbate social tensions, and thus weaken competitiveness.
Meloni believes that problems caused by migration affect democratic systems because when citizens feel that the state cannot effectively respond to important challenges, they lose confidence in the system. When trust is eroded, people are more easily manipulated, including by malicious artificial intelligence (AI). "So the problem is not just migration, but also involves the economy, democracy, competitiveness, energy, and security."
Meloni emphasized that no European country can face the multiple crises involved in migration alone; cooperation is a prerequisite. The EU will implement a new Pact on Migration and Asylum and is also developing new repatriation schemes, which will help stimulate innovation, including trying new proposals suggested by Italy.
Meloni continued by saying that although the EU has demonstrated emergency response capabilities in facing the pandemic and the war in Ukraine in recent years, "I believe that now we must raise our game; we must shift from passively reacting to proactively shaping the situation. This means we must pay more attention to long-term strategy."
Meloni stated that the EU strategy should not only focus on like-minded countries but also pay more attention to the "geopolitical neighbors" around the vast Mediterranean, incorporating security, development, and energy into cooperation with neighboring countries. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.