Italy's "consolidated" ties with the United States are strategically important, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday after talks in Rome between foreign minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi and US Congress members which centred on the conflict in Libya.
"The in-depth discussion reaffirmed the strategic importance for Italy of their consolidated transatlantic relations and reviewed the most relevant ongoing issues on the international scene," said the statement.
Besides the current military escalation in Libya between rogue eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar and forces loyal to the internationally recognised government in Tripoli, the talks also focused on the Mediterranean Basin and on relations with China and Russia, the statement said.
Prominent Republican party Senator Lindsey Graham, Chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary headed the US delegation which included Senators John Barrasso, Chris Coons, Ben Sasse and Congressman Michael McCaul, according to the statement.
