Italy's friendship with the US is "stronger than ever" the embassy tweeted on Friday during a visit to Washington by defence minister Lorenzo Guerini, for talks with opposite number Lloyd Austin.
"Afghanistan, Mediterranean, Africa, Iraq, NATO. Italy's friendship with the US stronger than ever," read the tweet.
Guerini thanked Austin for the US military's role in guarding Kabul airport last month during the rushed evacuation of over 120,000 people after the Taliban seized power and the last international troops left Afghanistan.
"This would have been impossible without the cooperation of the US," Guerini told Austin.
"Thanks to the US for your leadership and for the crucial role you have always played in international security," Guerini added.
