Rome [Italy], June 4: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron to Rome with a firm handshake on Tuesday, a meeting that many interpreted as a sign of diplomatic rapprochement.
Macron wanted to ensure that Meloni and he could move forward together, the Élysee Palace said. There are some points that need to be clarified, particularly regarding support for Ukraine, it said.
Initially, neither side provided details on how the talks actually went.
The meeting at Chigi Palace, the seat of Italian government, was considered a diplomatic reset between Paris and Rome, even though both sides stressed that there had never been a cold spell.
The leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party said last week that they have many commonalities but also differences. She said it is important to talk, even in the face of disagreements. Italy is an important partner, the Élysee Palace said, adding that Meloni would not be ostracized in any way.
The relationship between the two has recently seemed tense. In Rome, Macron's trip to Kiev with Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer caused irritation as Meloni was not included.
Even in the "coalition of the willing" initiated by Macron to support Ukraine after a ceasefire, the positions diverge: Italy strictly opposes sending troops.
The strategies of the two leaders also differ in their stance towards US President Donald Trump: Rome focuses on closeness and mediation, while Paris emphasizes European independence.
Source: Qatar Tribune