President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Thursday stressed the importance of defeating ISIS and helping to stabilize and rebuild war-torn countries so that refugees can return home.
Appearing at a joint press conference at the White House, the pair talked about issues on which they agreed and a few where they differed.
“Maintaining strong borders is a vital component of any security policy, and a responsible approach to refugees is one that seeks the eventual return of refugees to their home countries so that they can help to rebuild their own nations,” Trump said.
Gentiloni pointed out that Italy has been a staunch ally in fighting Islamic extremism in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The two leaders also agreed on the importance of stabilizing Syria, to prevent it from splintering, and of NATO, with Trump urging his counterpart to contribute more to the alliance.
But they differed on any US role in Libya, with the prime minister declaring that that country, too, needed to be stabilized and that the United States could play an important role there, an idea Trump quickly shot down.
“I do not see a [US] role in Libya,” Trump said. “I think the United States has right now enough roles. We are in a role everywhere, so I do not see that.”
With AP