ROME/ANKARA

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed developments in the Red Sea and Gaza over the phone, Italy's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

“The recent attack by Yemen's Houthis on the Greek oil tanker Sounion is a matter of grave concern due to the concrete risks of an environmental disaster and reaffirms the need to further intensify efforts to guarantee the safety of navigation in the Red Sea,” the statement said.

Tajani reiterated “Italy's continued commitment to the Aspides mission (of the European Union for the safety of navigation in the Red Sea) and that we will consider its strengthening,” it noted.

He also expressed Rome's full support for the mediation efforts led by the US to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza and to prevent the risk of the conflict expanding in the region, noting that coordination with Washington is important as a strategy to reduce tensions in the region and halt the spiral of violence.

The two also discussed developments in the Russia-Ukraine war and recalled that the next G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting will be held on Sept. 23 in New York at the opening of the UN General Assembly.

The statement additionally said that they agreed on the need to continue dialogue with China and expressed similar views on the need to consider joint initiatives to support the central bank's essential role in Libya and to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Long and friendly conversation with @SecBlinken,” Tajani said on X.

“We shared assessments of the crises in #Gaza and in #MarRosso (Red Sea),” he noted, adding: “Rome and Washington are united in calling for moderation from all regional actors.”

“Avoid at all costs a further escalation to bring peace to the Middle East,” he added.