L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS are not only excellent, but also carry with them a story and an imagery – to mention cinema – that has a strong appeal here. Before coming to the U n i t e d S t a t e s , y o u served as Italy's Perma- nent Representative to NATO in Brussels. How would you describe the current state of the rela- tionship between Italy and the United States? I recently participated in a c o n f e r e n c e a t t h e M i l k e n Institute where we discussed precisely these issues. We b e l i e v e t h a t t h e E u r o - Atlantic and transatlantic bond is one of the main fac- tors of global stability, espe- cially at a time when stabili- ty is needed more than ever. L a s t y e a r , w e r e a c h e d a n important agreement with the United States and NATO to increase defense spending in Europe. I believe all the conditions are in place to confirm and implement this c o m m i t m e n t , t a k i n g o n greater responsibilities in Europe, with benefits for our high-tech industries, while at the same time strengthen- ing the long-term bond that unites us with America. M i l a n o - C o r t i n a h a s been a major showcase for Italy. In a few years, L o s A n g e l e s w i l l a l s o host the Olympic Games: how can these occasions s u p p o r t c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n I t a l y a n d t h e United States? T h e s e a r e f u n d a m e n t a l events. Italy demonstrated, also through Milano-Corti- na, that it knows how to suc- c e s s f u l l y o r g a n i z e m a j o r international events. This is a p a r t i c u l a r l y c o m p l e x O l y m p i c s , s p r e a d a c r o s s broad and diverse territo- ries, but with extraordinary appeal. We have recorded exceptionally high numbers o f A m e r i c a n v i s i t o r s , a n d t h i s y e a r w e a r e r e a c h i n g r e c o r d - b r e a k i n g f i g u r e s . From the very beginning, we h a v e s h a r e d t h e O l y m p i c story with the United States, already looking ahead to Los A n g e l e s 2 0 2 8 , w h i c h i s something they care deeply about. It has become a true leitmotif. We also organized an event in Washington to prepare for the Olympics, w h i c h w e i n i t i a l l y h a d t o p o s t p o n e b e c a u s e o f a n exceptional snowstorm that paralyzed the city. We later rescheduled it, and it was a great success. All of this is to s a y t h a t t h e r e i s a l r e a d y s u b s t a n t i a l j o i n t w o r k between Italy and the Unit- e d S t a t e s a r o u n d t h e Olympic Games, and this collaboration will continue t h r o u g h 2 0 2 8 , d i r e c t l y involving this magnificent city. Y o u r v i s i t t o L o s Angeles also included a stop at Sophia Loren's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a symbol of a cinema that is part o f I t a l y ' s h i s t o r y . I n your view, how can Italy carve out its own space within Hollywood cine- ma in Los Angeles? Italy has long been one of the great iconic powers of world cinema. For this rea- son, at the beginning of my visit, I wanted to pay tribute t o o u r g r e a t a r t i s t s . L o s Angeles is a city that has not f o r g o t t e n t h i s l e g a c y : I recently visited the Academy Museum, and the names and faces of the men and women who shaped Italian cinema remain very present in that context. Cinema is art, it is aesthetic expression, it is historical storytelling; but it i s a l s o c r e a t i v e i n d u s t r y , advanced technology, and connection. For Italy, start- ing from here is always fun- damental, because we are a country that brings people together, a country open to the world. We want to make o u r c o n t r i b u t i o n s o t h a t , even in this complex phase, t h e s e v a l u e s c o n t i n u e t o emerge, and we are certain that together with America and this region of the United States, all of this can become a reality." Newspapers such as L'Italo-Americano tell t h e s t o r i e s o f I t a l i a n communities across the United States, including at the local level. How important is it to contin- ue promoting these real- ities? It is fundamental. These are not merely local reali- t i e s , t h e y a r e t h e v e r y essence and foundation of the strength of our relation- ship. One of the first major events I attended was the g a t h e r i n g o f N I A F , t h e National Italian American F o u n d a t i o n . I f e l t a v e r y strong presence and a great desire to express this attach- ment and this forward-look- ing vision, which moved me deeply. More recently, Ital- i a n A m e r i c a n s a l s o g a v e concrete proof of solidarity by raising funds for the dis- a s t e r s t h a t o c c u r r e d i n S o u t h e r n I t a l y , i n S i c i l y . T h i s c o n f i r m s j u s t h o w strong the bond is and how c l o s e t h e y r e m a i n t o u s . B e y o n d t h e e m o t i o n a l d i m e n s i o n , t h e r e i s a l s o p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c impact: many Italian Ameri- cans hold prominent posi- t i o n s i n p o l i t i c s , s c i e n c e , b u s i n e s s , a n d i n d u s t r y . Engaging and working with them is of tremendous help to our system in the United States, not only for the past, but above all for the future. Ambassador Marco Peronaci, on the important role of community newspapers like L'Italo Americano: "They are fundamental. These are not merely local realities, they are the very essence and foundation of the strength of our relationship." CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Above, Italian Ambassador to the United States, Marco Peronaci, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; below, Ambassador Peronaci at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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