Row with Meloni: what line to take with Trump?

Representatives of the Italian government should bear in mind that international relations are not based on personal friendships, Corriere della Sera admonishes:

“They should know that a country’s national interests outlast the term of office of its respective representative; that international meetings are not gala dinners or PR stunts, and that it’s pointless to vie for the favour of one influential figure or another. … What really counts is not the personality of the head of state, but the specific clout of the country, which is determined not only by economic power and military strength, but also by history, culture, soft power and national dignity.”