Premier Giorgia Meloni suggested on Wednesday that lifting sanctions on Syria could help engage with the country’s new leadership. However, she also stressed it might still be too early to decide.
Speaking in the Senate before this week’s EU summit, Meloni mentioned EU High Representative Kaja Kallas’s comments on Syria sanctions. Kallas had suggested that removing sanctions might strengthen ties with Syria’s new leadership. “It is clear that we are operating in a situation that is not very clear to anyone,” Meloni said.
On Tuesday, Meloni addressed the Lower House and celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. She called it “good news” for the Syrian population, who suffered through over a decade of civil war.
However, she also noted that the rebel forces now in control are diverse, with potentially conflicting goals. “Italy, the only G7 nation with an open embassy in Damascus, is ready to engage with Syria’s new leaders,” Meloni stated. She emphasised that any actions must align with European and international partners.
Meloni Defends Relations with Elon Musk
Meloni also defended her relationship with Elon Musk after former Premier Mario Monti questioned her ties to the billionaire.
“I maintain good relations with many people, and I don’t take orders from anyone,” Meloni told the Senate. She described herself as a “free person” who engages widely but avoids subservience.
Her comments followed Musk’s support for the government’s migration policies, including processing migrants in centres in Albania. In November, Musk caused controversy by tweeting, “These judges must go,” after courts blocked the detention of migrants under this scheme.
Meloni dismissed claims of foreign influence, insisting that her government prioritises Italy’s independence in decision-making. She said, “In the past, leaders believed good relations meant obeying others’ commands. That is not our approach.”
