Minister Tajani meets the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Capri

Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, met with the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron this morning on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Capri.

The meeting was an opportunity to strengthen the excellent relations between Italy and the United Kingdom and to review the main international issues, in particular the conflict in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.

The talks focused on the risk of escalation in the Middle East region. "While condemning once again, with the utmost firmness, the recent attack launched by Iran against Israel, I reiterated Italy's concern about the risk of a further escalation of the conflict," Tajani said, recalling the importance of moderation and dialogue in such a situation, where "any form of retaliation would jeopardise the already fragile and delicate balance". The Deputy Prime Minister also stressed the urgent need to reach a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible to guarantee access for humanitarian aid. He also pointed out that "'the only way to find a solution is for all regional actors to be fully involved and to accept the 'two peoples, two states' principle."

Support for Ukraine, a priority issue for the Italian G7 Presidency, also received great attention. During the conversation, Deputy Prime Minister Tajani reiterated Italy's continued support for Kiev at all levels with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace. "The situation is tough, Ukraine is under attack and must be supported decisively and at all levels as we work to define a path towards lasting peace. A just peace that is inextricably tied to the reconstruction of the country," Tajani added, recalling the latest initiatives taken by Italy, from the signing of agreements to support the Ukrainian energy sector to Italy's patronage of Odessa.

The two Ministers also addressed the issue of migration, reiterating their joint commitment to tackling human trafficking and irregular migration, with a particular focus on the collaboration needed to launch an effective security strategy in the Sahel region. In this regard, they agreed on the need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with African partners, starting with the G7 meeting with the Mauritania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the African Union's rotating President, held in Capri.