⁍ U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a warning to Italy over its economic relations with China.

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⁍ Described Chinese mobile telecoms technology as a threat to Italy’s national security and the privacy of its citizens.

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⁍ U.S. attention has focused particularly on Huawei Technologies, the world’s biggest telecoms equipment maker.

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– China is trying to “leverage its economic presence in Italy to serve its own strategic purposes,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Wednesday, urging the country to “consider carefully the risks to its national security and the privacy of its citizens presented by technology companies with ties to the Chinese Community Party.” Pompeo was in Rome to meet with Di Maio and other officials, Reuters reports. The US has been warning its European allies about the dangers posed by Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei, which it says poses a security threat, as well as about China’s broader relationship with the tech industry, the Wall Street Journal reports. “The United States also urges the Italian government to consider carefully the risks to its national security and the privacy of its citizens presented by technology companies with ties to the Chinese Community Party,” Pompeo said. Di Maio said Italy was aware of US concerns and “fully realize the responsibility faced by every country when dealing with security.”