Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has postponed her planned official visit to Bangladesh and four other Asian nations due to her ongoing commitments with NATO allies, particularly focused on the discussions between the US and Russia over the Ukraine war.
A reliable source within the Foreign Ministry confirmed the development on Thursday evening, revealing that Meloni’s visit to Dhaka, initially scheduled for August 30, has been delayed.
Meloni was expected to arrive in Bangladesh for a two-day visit at the invitation of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. A bilateral meeting with Yunus was planned for the following day.
However, diplomatic sources clarified that the visit has not been cancelled, but only delayed. Meloni’s Asia tour, which was set to include stops in Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan, was to begin with Bangladesh.
The decision to delay the visit comes as Italy’s involvement in NATO discussions regarding the Ukraine war takes precedence. The strategic importance of Italy’s role in these ongoing talks has led to the postponement of Meloni’s diplomatic tour in Asia for the time being.