Italian officials say their American counterparts initially seemed disinterested in the deal. After the fact, American diplomats began making their case, but the Italians said the deal was noticeably not on the American radar during recent high-level meetings in Washington. But this month, Garrett Marquis, spokesman for the American national security adviser, John R. Bolton, sharply attacked the deal in a Twitter post and in several interviews, while the National Security Council’s official Twitter account also issued a reproach on March 9. “Endorsing BRI lends legitimacy to China’s predatory approach to investment and will bring no benefits to the Italian people,” the tweet stated, referring to the Belt and Road Initiative. The Americans have also tried to pressure leaders of the nationalist League party, which is part of the governing coalition in Italy.

Source: New York Times March 18, 2019 17:59 UTC