President Sergio Mattarella issued a statement on Tuesday to celebrate the 160th anniversary of formal relations between Italy and the United States. "In the year that the Italian Republic celebrates the 160th anniversary of the country's unification, we also mark 160 years of diplomatic relations between Italy and the United States of America, which commenced on April 13, 1861," Matttarella said.

"Since then, we have traveled a long road together. our deep friendship has grown progressively over the past seventy-five years, taking root in our shared commitment to the values of freedom, peace and democracy. the constant and productive social and cultural exchanges between our peoples nourish it, as does the contribution made by the large and active community of Italian origin in the United States of America, and by U.S. citizens living in our country.