Divisions grow sharper
Global tensions are rising, and the NATO summit in Washington has solidified this. Echoing the stance expressed at the G7 in Borgo Egnazia, the Alliance has clearly manifested a more aggressive approach in its defensive strategy, deciding to isolate Russia and target its main ally, China. In the conclusions of the Assembly, it is stated that Beijing, as a member of the UN Security Council, “must cease all forms of political and material support” to the Kremlin. For NATO leaders, China “constitutes a danger to Europe and global security,” considering its nuclear arsenal and space capabilities. These are the harshest words ever used by NATO towards China. The final declaration also mentions other enemies of the Atlantic Alliance, from North Korea to Iran. Regarding Ukraine, there is a general agreement on the “irreversibility” of its process of joining the Alliance: “Kyiv’s future is in NATO” the conclusions state, without specifying a date. The leaders welcome “the concrete progress made by Ukraine (…) on the necessary democratic, economic, and security reforms”; but they “will extend an invitation to Kyiv to join the Alliance when the allies agree and the conditions are met”. This is a clear sign that there is not yet unanimity among the 32 member countries.
On the night between Thursday and Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden held a press conference, the first in eight months, at the end of the NATO annual meeting. The conference was a sort of referendum on his candidacy and an opportunity to publicly demonstrate his ability to communicate adequately and coherently. Biden asserted that he is still the “most suitable” candidate to defeat Donald Trump, trying to curb the pressure from within the Democratic Party for his withdrawal. It was a rather unusual moment in modern American political history, where the incumbent President seeks to affirm his mental and physical capabilities to quell dissent within his own party and thus avoid a general mutiny. Despite the efforts of the president and his staff, the conference did not seem to have the desired effect on the Democrats: the issue of a possible replacement of Biden remains central to the political discussion.
On the domestic front, parliamentary work was marked by the final approval of the Nordio bill by the Chamber of Deputies with 199 votes in favor and 102 against. The bill amends the penal code, the code of criminal procedure, the judicial system, and the military code, and among its provisions, it includes the repeal of the offense of abuse of office, changes to the offense of illicit trafficking of influence, and rules on wiretapping. The bill was approved in a second reading by the Chamber, identical to the text passed by the Senate, and thus becomes state law. This is a political victory for the center-right, marking a first step in the general reorganization of the justice system. The next step will be in September with the separation of careers.
