Greenland, Meloni softens: Nato decisions, avoid divisions. Then she sees the CEOs of 17 Japanese giants

On Greenland and the Arctic 'the reasoning that the Americans put forward on security and allied presence is serious, strengthening our presence is necessary. The NATO sphere is the one in which to develop dialogue, and also the one in which to discuss Italy's presence'. At the press point convened at 8.30 a.m. at the Italian embassy in Tokyo (1.30 a.m. Italian time) Giorgia Meloni thus responds to the question of whether or not she agrees with the position expressed by the Defence Minister, Guido Crosetto, according to whom in the area "the exercises have not started now, and certainly not 15 soldiers sent to Greenland. I wonder: to do what? A field trip? 15 Italians, 15 French, 15 Germans: it seems to me the beginning of a joke'.

The premier is not so clear on the 'no' to the military in the field, but the line is the same as Crosetto's. Uniting instead of dividing: 'NATO has already said that the Arctic is strategic. The allies are reasoning, I would not read it as divisive with respect to the US'. No condemnation of Donald Trump's threats ('His assertive methods, we know them, but I think it is a way of posing a problem that exists and raising attention' on the Arctic). Even if Meloni recalls the recent declaration signed together with six other European partners, including Denmark, recalling the need to move 'respecting the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders'.

On the other hand, even in the joint statement adopted on Friday at the bilateral with the Japanese premier Sanae Takaichi the two leaders emphasise the will to coordinate to defend a "just, free, open and law-based" international order. A signal also to Trump, despite Meloni continuing to consider a military action, on the ground, on the part of the tycoon 'difficult': 'I believe that the issue will also be resolved with a greater commitment on the part of NATO allies'.

Also on Trump's threat of imposing tariffs on "countries that do not align" on Greenland, the Council president blunts and dilutes. The 'deep concern' shared with Takaichi 'about all forms of economic coercion and the use of non-market policies and practices and the use of export restrictions that disrupt global supply chains for key goods and components and cause other forms of market distortions, including overcapacity', he explains, refers only to 'non-tariff barriers'. The reference, therefore, is primarily to China and the barriers raised on Japanese products after the prime minister's statements on Taiwan.

Meloni also calls for balance on the Iran in flames. "I think we have to work for a de-escalation," she says, "and I talked about it with the Sultan of Oman (last Wednesday, ed.) . We condemn the repressions and killings and call for ensuring the safety of citizens."