Italy’s Meloni meets US’s Rubio amid transatlantic strains

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began talks on Friday at Palazzo Chigi in Rome, according to Italy’s ANSA news agency, as both sides sought to navigate increasingly tense transatlantic relations.

Tajani stresses Western unity

Before meeting Meloni, Rubio also held discussions with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. “I am convinced that Europe needs America, Italy needs America, but the United States also needs Europe and Italy. These are the transatlantic relations; Western unity is fundamental,” Tajani reportedly told Rubio. Rubio arrived in Rome after meeting Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday.

Strained ties under Trump

Relations between the Trump administration and many European governments have become increasingly strained over several issues, particularly the Iran war, NATO burden-sharing, tariffs, and Trump’s confrontational rhetoric toward traditional allies. The relationship between Trump and the Vatican has deteriorated especially sharply over the Iran conflict. Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly called for peace, dialogue, and de-escalation, while criticizing military escalation and warning against civilian suffering. Trump responded with public attacks, accusing the pope of being “weak” and “terrible on foreign policy,” and claiming the pontiff is effectively enabling Iran. Türkiye, as a NATO ally with strong ties to both the US and Europe, continues to advocate for unity within the alliance and warns that internal divisions weaken collective security.