At a time of geopolitical, economic, and technological upheaval, Italian political and institutional leaders gathered in Washington for an Executive Breakfast Meeting organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy (AmCham Italy). The message that ran through the speeches was consistent: the relationship between Rome and Washington is changing, but it remains solid, and both sides have much to gain from deepening it. Opening the debate, Simone Crolla, Managing Director of AmCham Italy, offered a measured assessment of the current state of relations: "We are not at a breaking point but at a turning point," he said, describing a dialogue that is "fluid and well anchored." Crolla pointed to the many opportunities for reciprocal investment, which he said are evidenced by the numerous roundtables held in recent months.

Giorgio Mulè, Vice President of Italy's Chamber of Deputies, used the occasion to put forward a concrete institutional proposal. Arguing that the excellent relations between the two countries must be constantly strengthened, he suggested holding an Italian-American Parliamentary Day every year, alternating between Italy and the United States. The event, he said, would look at "the past, the present and above all the future" of bilateral relations. "Never more than in this era of great uncertainty," Mulè added, "must we strengthen the transatlantic bond and find common positions on the new geopolitical, economic and technological challenges." Mulè stressed that ties founded on Atlanticism should be further consolidated with the help of AmCham Italy, starting with new momentum for education programs. He cited the Fulbright Scholarships in particular, which offer postgraduate specialization, research stays, and teaching periods at universities and research centers in both Italy and the United States.

Italy's Ambassador to the United States, Marco Peronaci, said that Italy abroad "works as a system" and achieves results even in difficult circumstances thanks to its ability to cooperate. While acknowledging that the relationship with Washington "is going through a phase of transformation," he insisted that negotiations with the United States are "not between unequal parties." Italy, he said, continues to defend its interests and maintains a strong presence in the American market. The Ambassador underlined Italy's economic weight: "Italy ranks fourth in the world among exporters. We see it everywhere, but above all in the United States." Peronaci also offered figures to illustrate the intensity of bilateral engagement. Over the past twelve months, there have been 38 visits to the U.S. by government members and local administration representatives, among them Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto.

Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region, argued that the transatlantic relationship "must remain fundamental," but that the role of local territories, businesses, universities, and research centers in international relations needs to be strengthened. "We must in any case continue to have excellent relations with the United States," he said, noting that the U.S. is the leading non-European market for both Lombardy and Italy as a whole. According to Fontana, cooperation among territories can help overcome difficulties in international relations and widen economic opportunities, including for small and micro enterprises seeking access to foreign markets. Fontana devoted a significant part of his remarks to technology and artificial intelligence, calling for investment in high-quality training and improvements to the university system. He warned that a serious public information campaign on data center is needed, or the debate could follow the path of nuclear energy.

The panel closed with a cross-party and cross-institutional line-up that reflected the breadth of the Italian-American relationship. Carlo Fidanza, Member of the European Parliament for Fratelli d’Italia, was joined by Senator Elena Murelli of the Lega, Alessandro Cattaneo, Member of the Chamber of Deputies for Forza Italia, and Christian Di Sanzo, Deputy elected in the North and Central America constituency, who brings the voice of the Italian communities abroad. Ambassador Philip Reeker rounded out the discussion. 2 Taken together, the speakers showed that support for the transatlantic bond cuts across Italy’s governing coalition, the European institutions, and the diaspora. The day’s discussions pointed to a clear takeaway: the relationship between Rome and Washington is not at risk of rupture, but it is being renegotiated amid geopolitical tension, trade uncertainty, and rapid technological change.