Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on November 26, 2024. During the meeting, Secretary Blinken extended his congratulations to Italy for a successful year as host of the G7 summit.

The discussions between the two officials focused on several international issues. A key topic was the situation in Lebanon, where they talked about ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at allowing civilians to return home safely and addressed concerns regarding the increasing need for humanitarian assistance in the region.

Another major point of discussion was the conflict in Gaza. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that essential humanitarian aid reaches Gaza and emphasized the importance of ending the conflict and securing the release of hostages.

The meeting also covered Russia's actions against Ukraine. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Tajani discussed Russia’s recent decision to deploy troops from North Korea (DPRK) into its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, exploring its potential implications.

The information is based on statements made by Spokesperson Matthew Miller, who provided details about this high-level diplomatic engagement.