"The United States is and will remain an important ally, but we cannot maintain that relationship with our heads bowed. I believe that we should not be vassals in that relationship", but rather "with our backs straight, based on mutual respect, and also by keeping the fundamentals in line". Elly Schlein, Democratic Party Secretary, made the statement on the sidelines of the pre-summit of the European Union's Socialist and center-left parties. "Our government, however, initially minimized the significance of tariffs and subsequently did not adopt a definitive strategy to support workers and businesses. They bowed their heads when Trump sought to increase military spending to 5%, when they should have done as Spain did under Sánchez and said no because" this increase "endangers Italian welfare and the economy", she added. "The American national security strategy, advanced during the Trump administration, includes an unprecedented critique of the European Union, which faces the threat of being subdued by major powers aiming to diminish its influence. Indeed, Putin has commended this national plan", she said. "In fact, Putin himself welcomed this national strategy with praise. I would like the Italian government to understand that, in order to safeguard the national interest at this moment, it is necessary to safeguard a European interest.”