Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi meets here on Monday with US President Barack Obama for talks expected to focus on next month's Group of Eight summit in Italy, the global economic downturn and Afghanistan.
Berlusconi, who is hosting the G8 summit in the quake-struck city of L'Aquila, will illustrate to Obama the agenda for the July 8-10 meeting.
Discussion on the economy will probably focus on the different approaches the US and Europe are taking to restore stability and confidence.
Observers believe that in Monday's talks Obama may ask Italy to further increase its presence in Afghanistan, where it currently has some 2,800 troops and commands the western theatre.
Speaking in Rome on Monday, Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa said that he had not discussed this possibility with Berlusconi before the premier's departure, but that should Obama make such a request ''the Italian armed forces are ready to to their part''.
La Russa added the decision to increase troop strength was up to Berlusconi.
It is likely that the Italian premier and American president will also discuss the situation Middle East, in light of Sunday's policy speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which be gave a conditional green light to the existence of a 'demilitarised' Palestinian state.
Following his meeting with Obama, which Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may attend, Berlusconi will go to Congress to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was in Italy recently, and other congressional leaders.
