STORY: Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she respected the choice of American voters at the recent U.S. midterm elections before dismissing criticism of defence spending at home.

Meloni made the comments during a visit at the horse exhibition "Fieracavalli" in Verona on Friday (November 6).

Regarding the U.S. elections, she said she respected the decision of US voters, adding she was "not in favour of interfering in the dynamics of others". She said she expected "absolutely nothing" to change in the relationship between Rome and Washington.

Recent demonstrations in various Italian cities such as Milan, Rome and Bologna have seen protesters demand the lowering of the country's military spending, spending the money that would be saved on higher wages and improved public services.

Meloni said defence spending ensured the security of the country's citizens and argued some spending on defence could be used to protect Italy's health system from cyberwarfare.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: VERONA, ITALY (NOVEMBER 6, 2026) (ITALIAN PRIME MINISTRY HANDOUT - Access all)

1. ITALY'S PRIME MINISTER, GIORGIA MELONI, CUTTING RIBBON TO OPEN HORSE EXHIBITION 'FIERACAVALLI'

2. HORSES ENTERING STADIUM

3. MELONI PETTING HORSE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALY'S PRIME MINISTER, GIORGIA MELONI, SAYING:

"We respect, of course, what the Americans have decided in elections that are free and sovereign, I am not in favour of interfering in the dynamics of others, and I am not saying this specifically in relation to the U.S. elections, I have said the same on every occasion when I have been asked to comment on elections in other countries. What I can tell you, and I am repeating this, is that what matters to us is that, as far as I am concerned, absolutely nothing changes in our relations with the Americans, because my approach towards the United States has never changed over the years, regardless of who was governing the USA or who was President of the USA. I do not take a ‘fan-like’ approach to foreign policy. I leave that to others."

5. MELONI AND ATTENDEES SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM

6. MELONI GREETING CROWD

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALY'S PRIME MINISTER, GIORGIA MELONI, SAYING:

"Right now, what is being attacked is the civilian infrastructure: food supplies, hospitals, the health service, and transport. And this, look, I’m sorry to have to reiterate it, but it brings me back to a point I’ve been trying to make for some time: When we talk about defence and security spending during times like these, we’re not simply talking about weapons. We’re talking about safeguarding the daily lives of our citizens."

8. MELONI TAKING SELFIES WITH PEOPLE

9. MELONI SHAKING HANDS WITH CROWD

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALY'S PRIME MINISTER, GIORGIA MELONI, SAYING:

"When the hackers tried to alter the temperature of the fridges used to store blood for transfusions, that blood was protected by a system that costs money. When you pay to buy that system, is it a defence expenditure or a healthcare expenditure? So, you must realise that when they are claiming the resources for defence and security consist of money that is being taken away from healthcare or from hospitals, that’s utter nonsense."

11. MELONI PETTING SMALL PONY WITH PONYTAIL

12. MELONI GETTING ONTO HORSE AMIDST CHEERING CROWD

13. MELONI RIDING HORSE AND WAVING TO CROWD