Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani has reaffirmed strong trans-Atlantic ties in talks with US top diplomat, Marco Rubio.
This came as Rubio wrapped up two days of talks in Italy and the Vatican following weeks of tensions over the U.S-Israeli war in Iran.
Tajani reaffirmed strong trans-Atlantic ties and said that he hoped “tensions have been calmed” with Rubio’s visit. He said that the two discussed the Iran war and spillover into Lebanon, as well as the situation in Venezuela and Cuba.
“I believe things can go in the right direction. I am convinced Europe needs America — Italy needs America — and the United States also needs Europe and Italy.”
Antonio Tajani
The U.S Secretary of state also met with Premier Giorgia Meloni today.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs, his complaints about Europe’s unwillingness to help the U.S. with the Iran war and his attacks on Pope Leo XIV have fueled weeks of sharp disagreements over trade and defense cooperation between the two traditionally strong allies.
Trump has criticized both the Pope and Italy’s government for opposing the Iran war. Meloni has called the U.S-Israeli bombing “illegal” and rebuked Trump’s remarks about the pontiff as “unacceptable.”
Trump has responded by accusing Meloni of lacking courage and being “negative” on helping the U.S. with the war. Meloni had long been seen as one of Trump’s top allies in Europe, but Trump has openly said their relationship has cooled.
Trump has threatened to withdraw more troops from Italy and Spain over their stance on the war. Italy, a key logistics hub for U.S. and allied operations in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and North Africa, could see its role affected if troop levels are reduced, raising concerns about NATO’s posture in southern Europe.
Defence cooperation was already tested in late March, when Italy declined to allow U.S. bombers bound for the Middle East to land at Sigonella base in Sicily without parliamentary approval.
Italy’s Constitution and treaties lay out the precise ways in which the bases can be used: They allow logistics and training operations within a NATO framework, but generally exclude direct offensive operations, such as bombing, unless specifically authorized.
Meloni and Tajani have repeatedly said Italy doesn’t want to participate in the Iran conflict, and that if the U.S seeks permission to use Italian bases for offensive purposes, any decision must be approved by Parliament, where opposition to the war is strong.
Italy Ready To Demine Strait Of Hormuz Once Ceasefire Is Reached
Tajani reaffirmed that Italy stood ready to send in its navy to help demine the Strait of Hormuz once a permanent ceasefire is reached with Iran, and to maintain its already strong presence in Lebanon with the UN peacekeeping mission.
Responding to reports that Iran is looking to establish an agency to control the strait of Hormuz, Rubio said that would be “very problematic” and “unacceptable.”
Tajani disclosed that he told Rubio that Italy considers the presence of U.S troops in Europe to reinforce NATO important, a reference to Trump’s threats to pull back America’s troops.
The State Department, for its part, said Rubio raised efforts to “promote freedom of navigation and maritime security,” as well as a need for an end to the war in Ukraine, and for Western nations to protect their economic interests.
Commenting on the current status of talks with Russia and Ukraine, Rubio said, “We’ve played … tried to play a mediator role in that so far, it has not led to a fruitful outcome for a variety of reasons.”
“We remain prepared to play that role if it can be productive. We don’t want to waste our time and invest time and energy on an effort that’s not moving forward. But if we see an opportunity to act as a mediator that brings both sides closer to a peace deal, we’d like to see it.”
Marco Rubio
He said that the US sees the continuing war as “a tragedy” with “both sides paying avery heavy prices for it, both economic and obviously at a human level.”
Meloni has warned the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is driving up energy costs and squeezing household purchasing power, while potential U.S tariff threats have raised concerns for Italy’s export-driven economy.
Meloni is reeling from a referendum defeat in March and facing domestic opposition to the war, complicating her position. Since taking office in 2022, Meloni has sought to cast herself as a reliable U.S. ally and a bridge between Washington and Europe, but disputes over Iran and trade, and her recent political setback, have exposed the limits of the role.
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