Italy to join US-led AI supply chain initiative despite Trump row

Italy is set to join the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative focused on artificial intelligence supply chains, signaling a commitment to international cooperation in a critical technological sector. The decision comes despite a recent public dispute between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ambassador Armando Varricchio confirmed Italy's intention to join, stating that Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will sign a memorandum of understanding soon. "This provides a political basis that demonstrates the willingness to resume from where we had temporarily left off," Varricchio told Corriere della Sera.

Pax Silica, a U.S. State Department initiative, brings together allied nations to safeguard AI supply chains. This includes crucial elements like energy, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and AI models. The European Commission recently joined, with the Netherlands also signing up earlier in the week.

Italy's participation was initially planned for Monday in Miami but was postponed after Meloni and Trump had a public falling out. Trump had reportedly complained about Italy's perceived lack of support regarding the Iran war. Varricchio, serving as Italy's special envoy for innovation, had attended a summit on the initiative as an observer and signed a joint declaration on AI opportunities with several other nations, including Britain, Germany, Japan, India, and South Korea.

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This provides a political basis that demonstrates the willingness to resume from where we had temporarily left off.