U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday amid escalating tensions between the two allies over Italy's refusal to support the U.S.-led war against Iran and President Donald Trump's recent attacks on Pope Leo XIV.
Key Takeaways
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to address escalating tensions over Italy's refusal to support the U.S.-led war against Iran and President Trump's attacks on Pope Leo XIV. The talks covered Middle East security, Libya, Lebanon, Ukraine, and NATO troop movements.
The meeting came as diplomatic strains grew, with Rubio questioning why Italy and other allies were not backing Washington's efforts to confront Iran. According to Reuters, Rubio told reporters that countries needed 'something more than just strongly worded statements' if they opposed Iran's actions.
The talks also addressed Italy's decision last month to refuse U.S. aircraft use of the Sigonella air base in Sicily for combat operations linked to the Iran conflict, as reported by Al Jazeera. Italian officials stated that Washington had not sought prior authorization for the use of the site.
Meloni described the discussions with Rubio as 'extensive and constructive,' covering topics such as Middle East security, Libya, peace processes in Lebanon and Ukraine. She emphasized the importance of defending national interests while recognizing Western unity. According to Fox News, Rubio's visit aimed to stabilize relations before the political rift deepened further.
During his visit, Rubio highlighted his support for NATO, the pope, and Italy but acknowledged that President Trump might continue his social media attacks. As reported by UPI, Rubio stated, 'The president will always speak clearly about how he feels about the U.S. and U.S. policy.' He added that Trump's decision to remove troops from Germany was part of a pre-existing plan, representing less than 14% of the total troop presence there.
Rubio also visited Pope Leo XIV with his wife and State Department employees, exchanging gifts including a crystal football and an olive branch pen. Meloni presented Rubio with documentation of his family's Italian origins in Piedmont. Despite Trump's attacks on the pope and Italy's stance on the Iran war, Meloni noted that most Italians are against joining the conflict.
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