French President Emmanuel Macron Visits Italy — Meets PM Giorgia Meloni to Discuss Gaza, Ukraine Crises

French President Emmanuel Macron Visits Italy — Meets PM Giorgia Meloni to Discuss Gaza, Ukraine Crises

On Tuesday evening, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron at Chigi Palace in Rome. The high-level meeting focused on several pressing issues, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the future of the European Union, and relations with a possible return of a Trump administration.

According to a statement released Monday by the Élysée Palace,

“Prime Minister Meloni is a member of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’. She participated in the meetings held in Paris and London. Italy is an important partner in this coalition.”

The “Coalition of the Willing” is a European-led alliance spearheaded by Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aimed at continuing support for Ukraine’s armed forces. The coalition is also working on forming an international security force to ensure post-war security in Ukraine.

Besides Italy, member countries include Germany, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, and Romania. The Italian government stated that France and Italy share a “common position on many issues,” and while both sides are optimistic about productive discussions, key disagreements remain.

Military Support for Ukraine: Point of Contention

A significant difference lies in the approach to military aid for Ukraine. While Macron has taken a more assertive stance, including suggesting the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine, Meloni has been more cautious. She favors extending NATO’s Article 5 security umbrella to Ukraine, a proposal that has not gained broad support among European allies.

It’s worth noting that when Macron visited Kyiv in mid-May along with Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany and Keir Starmer, Meloni was absent. One week later, she also skipped a “Coalition of the Willing” working meeting in Tirana, the capital of Albania.

However, Tuesday's bilateral talks and working dinner are expected to help narrow the gap between the two countries. Leaders hope to outline a shared framework on economic cooperation, migration issues, and transatlantic relations going forward.