In a statement sent to several ministers on April 10, President Donald Trump directed a series of measures that US officials can take to help Italy in the fight against Covid-19. These include mobilizing US military forces in Italy to assist the host country in remote medical services, participating in the construction of field hospitals and transporting equipment.
"Italy, one of our closest and oldest allies, is being devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 18,000 lives, pushing most of Italy’s medical system to the brink. collapse and threaten to bring the Italian economy into a severe recession, ”President Trump said.
To date, Italy has at least 18,849 deaths and 147,577 cases of Covid-19. Italy is the largest outbreak in Europe and the country with the largest number of Covid-19 deaths in the world.
Meanwhile, the United States currently records 18,747 deaths from Covid-19, nearly the same as Italy. The United States is also the country with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world, reaching more than 500,000 people.
President Trump asked the Secretary of Commerce to encourage US suppliers to sell medical products at the request of Italian authorities and suppliers of medical supplies.
The White House boss also asked the US Secretary of State, the US Agency for International Development and the leaders of the US Export-Import Bank to "use the authorized authority to support the recovery of the Italian economy". .
