US and Italy sign critical minerals agreement

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, signed a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals in New York on Monday.

The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Italy to diversify and secure supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths. Speaking at the signing, Rubio described Italy as "a great partner" and said the two countries work very closely together on the issue of critical minerals, which he said is under constant consideration.

Saying that the agreement is a key point for Italy's strategy and industrial policy, Tajani noted that Italy is the second-largest industrial country in Europe and ranks fourth in the world in trade.