Macron to visit Italian PM after rivalry sparks tensions over Ukraine and trade

Reuters
Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday in a bid to ease tensions over Ukraine, U.S. ties, and EU trade strategies, amid growing disagreements between the two leaders.

As political strains mount between France and Italy, President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday. The visit aims to mend frayed ties driven by divergent stances on the war in Ukraine, trade relations, and how to engage with the United States under Donald Trump’s leadership.

Meloni has criticized Macron’s proposal to send peacekeeping troops under a Franco-British initiative, which is unpopular in Italy. She has also missed key meetings involving Ukraine and Trump, citing military deployment concerns—comments Macron later seemed to downplay, drawing the ire of her government.

Topics on the table include Ukraine’s security, the Mercosur trade deal, U.S. tariffs, Middle East tensions, Libya, and industrial cooperation—particularly concerning Stellantis, a joint French-Italian carmaker.

Experts say the meeting reflects strategic urgency more than symbolic reconciliation, especially with both nations wary of Russia’s growing influence in Libya.

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