(Bloomberg) -- Italy is positioning itself as U.S. President Donald Trump’s staunchest ally in continental Europe, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said.

“At a moment when European Union institutions are fragile and changing significantly, Italy wants to be the most solid, effective, coherent and credible partner for the U.S.,” the head of the right-wing League party told reporters in Washington on Monday after talks with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.

Salvini, Italy’s most popular politician, added that his country and Trump have a “common vision” about Iran, Venezuela, Libya, the Middle East -- and especially China.

“I share the U.S. concerns toward both China and Iran,” he said. “We must check the meddling of non-democratic countries in fundamental infrastructure -- technology, telecommunications, energy.”

While Italy signed a memorandum of understanding for China’s Belt and Road in March, triggering criticism from U.S. and EU allies, Salvini said the populist government is considering banning Huawei Technologies Co. from bidding for crucial infrastructure.

“We are verifying whether there are real and evident problems and issues that impose a reflection,” he said.

The deputy premier will also meet vice President Mike Pence. A White House visit with him could yield some face time with Trump, three officials who asked not to be named discussing confidential plans said June 15. That could take the form of a “spontaneous’’ encounter, one of the officials said, although Trump usually only meets with heads of state or leaders of governments.

To contact the reporters on this story: Lorenzo Totaro in Rome at ltotaro@bloomberg.net;Alessandro Speciale in Rome at aspeciale@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Fergal O'Brien at fobrien@bloomberg.net, Dan Liefgreen, Alessandro Speciale

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