WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama hosted, as announced, the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Enrico Letta at the White House.
The official visit highlighted the vitality of the relationship between the United States and Italy. “The bonds between our two countries – says the White House press release – are among the strongest tying together the United States and Europe”.
In the bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, they discussed promoting economic growth and new jobs, their support for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, cooperation within Nato, shared challenges in North Africa and the Middle East, and other issues.
Partners in Global Security – The United States and Italy are working together to promote peace, rule of law, and freedom worldwide. The United States partners with the more than 5,000 Italian security forces de-ployed in key international missions around the globe. Italy has the fourth-largest contingent in Isaf in Afghanistan, and its leadership in Herat Province is ena-bling a smooth transition in the western region of the country. Together with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Tur-key, Italy plays a lead role in as-sisting Libya in its efforts to re-store security and build its institutions. Italy hosts more than 30,000 U.S. service members, Department of Defense civilian employees, and their families at bases across Italy.
Strong Economic Ties: “Our two countries share a robust trading relationship”. The U.S. is Italy’s third-largest export market, and Italy is the United States’ 15th-largest export market. Italian exports to the United States in 2012 totaled $35.5 billion, a 16.8 percent increase over 2011. Meanwhile, American exports to Italy in 2012 totaled $16.0 billion, a 1.1% share of total U.S. exports.
Between five and six million U.S. tourists visit Italy each year.
50 Years of Space Cooperation: In 1962, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Italian Space Commission of the Italian National Council of Research, which led to the launch of one of the earliest satellites ever placed in orbit around the Earth. Today, Nasa enjoys robust cooperation through the Italian Space Agency and European Space Agency.
In 2013, the United States and Italy celebrated 50 years of co-operation in outer space and signed an agreement to facilitate future U.S.-Italy cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space.
Nasa considers Italy one of its most important Eu partners, and on July 9, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano completed a spacewalk, the first ever for an Italian citizen, at the International Space Station.
Milan Expo 2015: The United States is moving forward with “Friends of the U.S. Pavilion Milano 2015,” partner in the ef-fort to build the Usa Pavilion at the Milan Expo. The goal is to use state-of-the-art digital media and novel approaches to showcase American leadership and innovation in global food security, agriculture, and cuisine and lay the seeds for enhanced trade and investment between the United States and Italy in this sector, so important to the cultural heritage of both nations.
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