Italy is key United States partner in Mediterranean, Trump tells Gentiloni

Mr. Trump warned that Iran was not living up to the "spirit" of the nuclear deal it signed with the US and other world powers during the Obama administration. Pavarotti's family had said, "the values of brotherhood and solidarity which Luciano Pavarotti expressed throughout the course of his artistic career are entirely incompatible with the worldview offered by the candidate Donald Trump".

Trump called Italy a "key partner" in the fight against terrorism, noting it is the second largest contributor of troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, and praised it for its efforts to stabilize Libya.

Trump took aim at Canada's dairy industry this week for creating a new lower-priced classification of milk product that he argues hurts US producers.

"I love the question you asked the prime minister".

Stabilization in Libya is a top priority for Italy, especially following a recent agreement to stop the flow of Libyan migrants into their country.

Gentiloni said that while financial constraints prevented Rome from paying the promised two percent of GDP, the prime minister assured Trump that "our commitment to common defense is very clear".

The U.S. president criticized Canadian policies related to a few industries including lumber, timber and energy, adding that officials will have to get to the negotiating table with Canada very quickly.

Diplomats and analysts who closely follow developments in Libya said it was not entirely clear whether the president was signalling a break from the US's strong support of the Tripoli government led by Fayez al-Sarraj, or whether he was simply stating that he did not envisage the U.S. taking an active military role in the country. We need a stable and unified Libya.

- He sees no military role for the U.S.in stabilizing Libya.

Gentiloni noted Italy and America's "common commitment against terrorism".

Trump has pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a pact that he called "a disaster". He said it requires social and economic collaboration with Muslim communities to be effective.

Italy has also committed to increase its defence spending to two per cent of gross domestic product, the target Trump wants all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members to reach, but Trudeau has said Canada is already doing its fair share. Much is uncertain in Europe, with Britain's decision to leave the European Union and the French presidential election - for which the first round of voting is Sunday. Trump held his presidential campaign under the banner "America First" and had vowed in April previous year that the United States, under his presidency, will be "getting out of the nation-building business". Gentiloni insisted he wasn't singling out the US president - even though he appeared to drop hints in that direction from the moment of his first public handshake with Trudeau.

It will start with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation leaders' summit in Brussels, just before the G7 leaders meet in Italy - summits which both Trump and Trudeau are expected to attend.

"Yes, a strong Europe is very, very important to me as president of the united states", Trump told reporters at the news conference with Gentiloni.