Meloni and Macron Hold Talks in Rome
Emmanuel Macron (L) and Giorgia Meloni (R), June 3, 2025. Photo: Xinhua.
June 4, 2025 Hour: 7:59 am
On the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, they have vowed strong support to Kiev.
On Tuesday, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and the two leaders held bilateral talks on various issues, including trade, and relationships with the United States.
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The French president was greeted with the guard of honour at Palazzo Chigi, and Meloni and Macron were seen shaking hands and smiling for cameras before entering the government palace.
The bilateral talks were expected to help dispel recent tensions between the two countries, Ansa news agency reported.
France and Italy are traditional allies, and the second and third-largest economies in the European Union (EU), respectively, but the two governments have been at odds over a number of issues, and are politically distant: Meloni leads a right-wing, nationalist cabinet, while Macron is centrist and strongly pro-European.
The text reads: “After months of coldness and controversy, yesterday’s long meeting at Palazzo Chigi between Meloni and Macron marks a rapprochement between Italy and France on key international policy issues. The shared commitment to supporting Ukraine has been renewed.”
The two leaders also differ from each other in their approach to the United States, with Meloni seeking to build close ties with President Donald Trump — and play a negotiating role between the United States and the EU on tariffs — and Macron advocating a more independent EU’s stance.
On the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both countries have vowed strong support to Kiev, but the Italian prime minister has shown skepticism toward a French-British plan to send peacekeeping troops in case of a peace deal.
Meloni’s office did not release any statement after the bilateral meeting with the French president on Tuesday, nor held a press conference. On Saturday, however, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani declared Macron’s visit would be “an absolutely positive event between two countries that are allies and neighbours.”
teleSUR/ JF
Source: Xinhua
