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Shkruar nga PamfletiThe message is clear. Washington expects Rome to join in. A different decision, according to diplomatic sources, would directly disappoint President Trump.
The United States has sent a clear message through the State Department to Giorgia Meloni's government.
Washington wants Italy to become part of the PURL program (Prioritized Ukrainian Request List, PURL), the list of priority requests for Ukraine's defense. Although the Trump administration is trying to maintain good relations with the Giorgia Meloni government, the American expectation is open and unequivocal.
PURL is now considered one of the central mechanisms of the American policy of military aid to Kiev. Unlike the time of Joe Biden, where aid was given without economic conditions, President Trump is seeking a new model: European allies to buy weapons manufactured in the US and pass them on to the Ukrainian army. In Washington, they do not hide that a refusal by Italy would cause surprise and disappointment.
The program was conceived by Trump himself. It serves as a political guarantee on the domestic American stage to show that the US is not “spending” money, but is benefiting from the purchases of allies. PURL gained even greater importance after the recent tensions with Vladimir Putin, after the failure of the Anchorage meeting. In addition to new economic sanctions against Russia, Washington has also expanded arms supplies to increase pressure on the Kremlin.
Germany was among the first to allocate $500 million to this program. The Nordic countries recently announced another $500 million package. Italy has also been invited to contribute, with an initial amount of about 140 million euros.
But in Rome, the issue is delicate. The Meloni government is considering the decision, but the obstacles are not related to finances. It is more about the domestic political climate: an austerity maneuver being debated in Parliament, tensions with the League and Forza Italiana, as well as fears that public opinion might view the new military commitment negatively.
Meanwhile, Kiev is exerting increasing pressure. According to diplomatic sources, Ukraine has informed the Italian government that without Rome's participation in PURL, the country will not be able to receive the Patriot or Himars systems, which are essential for air defense. The Samp-T missiles donated by Italy and France have been used up for months, and Rome has not foreseen new supplies.
In this climate, the cancellation of Defense Minister Guido Crosetto's visit to Washington has added to the suspicions. The visit was canceled after a conversation with Prime Minister Meloni, at a time when Matteo Salvini's opposition to aid for Ukraine has become increasingly vocal.
La Repubblica newspaper asked the State Department for clarification on the cancellation of the visit, the importance of Italy's participation in PURL, and the possible consequences of Italy staying out. The American spokesman spoke in cautious tones, noting that the US considers Italy a strong NATO ally. But to the other two questions he gave a single and significant answer: "We would be pleased to see Italy part of the PURL initiative."
The message is clear. Washington expects Rome to join. A different decision, according to diplomatic sources, would directly disappoint President Trump./ Adapted from La Repubblica
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