United States ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey on Thursday said she hoped Italy would remain "a strong member" of the North Atlantic Alliance whatever the political hue of the new government formed after last month's inconclusive election.
"Of course I hope Italy he will remain a strong member of NATO, as it is today," Bailey told reporters Brussels.
Remarks from the spokespeople of Italy main political forces since the 4 March national polls had given no indication of waning support for NATO, Bailey said.
"We appreciate Italy in particular its prominent role in Afghanistan... it is doing a great job there," she stated.
Bailey said she hoped Italians realised the important "umbrella of security" provided by NATO.
"I would also emphasis that the South is a new NATO priority," she said.
"It something Italy has requested, like Spain and Turkey," Bailey said, adding that Italy had shown "strong leadership" in getting NATO to focus more on the South.
"NATO members agreed to this unanimously," Bailey noted.
No party or political bloc won a clear parliamentary majority in Italy's March ballot in which populist, eurosceptic parties made strong gains.
Consultations with Italy's main parties on a possible coalition government are ongoing.
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