All articles tagged with #meloni
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken says Europe will still rely on the U.S. for defense for five to ten years and urges Washington not to be angered by attacks on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after Trump mocked her; as Europe boosts defense spending and cross-border procurement, Belgium remains around 1.93% of GDP on defense by 2029, well below the 3.5% target for 2035.
Italian ministers sought to quell fallout from Donald Trump's Truth Social meme mocking Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying transatlantic relations extend beyond a few statements. Tajani, Crosetto, and Salvini downplayed the incident while Meloni called Trump’s claims 'made up.' With a NATO Ankara summit looming, officials indicate continued U.S.-Italy engagement and anticipate a possible meeting between Meloni and Trump, underscoring that ties remain strong despite the spat.
US President Donald Trump reignited his feud with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by sharing a meme on Truth Social implying she is obsessed with him, just ahead of a NATO summit in Turkey; Meloni rejected the claims as false and defended Italy’s sovereignty and existing base agreements, while Trump also posted doctored images of Barack Obama as part of a broader social media spree.
Trump’s public feud with Giorgia Meloni is framed as a catalyst for Macron and Meloni to mend ties at Antibes, where roughly a dozen bilateral pacts are expected, spanning civil nuclear power with small reactors, a Franco-Italian space venture, and defense deals (Aster missiles and air defense), plus cooperation on infrastructure, Mediterranean security, and trade ahead of Macron’s departure.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s escalating spat with Donald Trump is described by analysts as a calculated maneuver to boost her domestic standing ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing the public row carries little downside and could enhance her popularity and European credibility even amid a poll dip; the feud featured Trump’s claim that Meloni begged for a photo, Meloni’s denial, and ongoing criticism over Iran and alliance dynamics.
Trump alleged that Meloni repeatedly sought photo opportunities with him at the G7 to boost her domestic popularity, a claim Meloni dismissed as made-up. He said she wanted to repair ties with Washington after U.S. actions against Iran, escalating a row that has strained Italy–U.S. relations, with Italy canceling a planned visit amid debates over NATO spending and the Iran crisis.
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni pushed back at Donald Trump at the G7 after Trump claimed she was unpopular and said she begged for a photo; Meloni responded on Instagram that her popularity isn’t Trump’s business and defended Italy’s use of bases for potential Iran-related operations, saying agreements must be respected while she’s prime minister. The exchange underscores a growing rift between the allies even as Meloni and Trump have had a close relationship.
President Donald Trump has widened a dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over a disputed G7 summit photo, fueling tensions during a working lunch with leaders at Evian-les-Bains, France, as part of the G7 and Middle East talks.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected Donald Trump’s claim that she begged him for a photo at the G7, calling the remarks totally invented and criticizing his conduct toward allies as Italy navigates ongoing tensions with the US over Iran-related policy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected Donald Trump’s claim that she begged him for a photo at the G7, calling it “totally fabricated,” and criticized how he treats allies; Italy’s foreign minister condemned the remark and canceled a planned U.S. trip, signaling a cooling of relations despite Meloni’s past warmth with Trump.
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni rejected Donald Trump’s claim that she begged him for a photo at the G7, calling the remarks “completely made up.” Meloni said she and Italy never beg allies, and her foreign minister canceled a planned US trip in response. The clash adds to tense transatlantic dynamics as EU leaders convene on other topics like defence spending and offshore return hubs; coverage also notes reactions from Meloni allies and ongoing EU summit discussions.
A newly launched National Future party led by ex-general Roberto Vannacci is rapidly gaining ground in Italy, drawing defectors from Matteo Salvini’s League and pressuring Giorgia Meloni’s governing coalition ahead of the 2027 election. Vannacci’s hard-line platform—remigration, stricter immigration limits, nationalism, and defense spending—is shifting the right’s debate and could force Meloni to either bring the insurgent movement into her tent or risk alienating moderates and EU partners as polls show National Future approaching the League in support.
CNN reports that as Trump attends the Évian summit, his ongoing insults toward G7 allies reveal a strained rapport with Macron and Meloni, and tensions with other leaders over Iran policy; the piece traces how Trump’s criticism—targeting leaders’ stances and even personal remarks—has persisted from Davos to recent meetings, signaling a fragile, contentious dynamic within the US-European bloc.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faces a challenge from the right in the form of general-turned-politician Vincenzo Vannacci, whose hard-line, anti-immigrant stance could pull the center-right coalition further to the far right. Meloni has avoided direct confrontation and ruled out electoral deals with Vannacci-aligned lawmakers, hoping his momentum wanes, while analysts say even a small share of his party could be pivotal in coalition negotiations ahead of elections.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels to Rome to manage a delicate balance: press Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on defense and trade while avoiding a combustible spat with the Vatican, where leverage is minimal and diplomacy rules. Meloni’s government has some room to align with Washington, but domestic politics and Trump-era pressure complicate concessions, with talks likely touching Iran, Cuba and broader Western Hemisphere issues. The trip underscores that American influence remains meaningful but uneven: effective with Rome, far harder to move the Vatican.