Rome-Paris: challenges and international issues
Rome-Paris: this was the axis around which Italy’s political week revolved. In Rome, during a recent majority summit, Giorgia Meloni clarified her stance on defense. Italy, the Prime Minister explained, is working to obtain “solid and effective security guarantees,” but strictly within the NATO framework, avoiding any involvement in a ground military force—at least until there is a United Nations mandate. This was the central point of discussion between Meloni and ministers Matteo Salvini and Guido Crosetto.
A statement from Palazzo Chigi, released after the meeting, explicitly stated that “no national participation in a ground military force is planned.” It also noted that the possibility of a UN intervention to monitor and implement a ceasefire was discussed—an initiative that Italy has long supported. If a UN mission were to materialize, Italy could contribute with its own personnel.
The meeting followed controversy sparked by recent developments, such as a phone call between Deputy Prime Minister Salvini and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. This conversation, which appeared to bypass the Foreign Minister, caused some unease, prompting Antonio Tajani to reaffirm that Italy’s foreign policy is determined by himself and Prime Minister Meloni. Internal disagreements within the Italian government also persist regarding European rearmament—an issue that could prove decisive in the coming weeks. The “ReArm Europe” plan proposed by Ursula von der Leyen does not have uniform support across the ruling coalition.
Nevertheless, at the Paris summit, Italy largely maintained its established stance, despite Europe once again demonstrating a two-speed approach—divided between more aggressive nations and those taking a more cautious approach to balancing relations with Russia and the United States. Peace in Ukraine remains distant, and for now, so does a definitive ceasefire.
Finally, in Rome this week, the major event “Agricoltura è” took place, serving as a significant occasion to reaffirm the agricultural sector’s central role in the national economy. It was an important showcase for Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, as well as an opportunity to reflect on pressing issues such as digitalization, tariffs, and generational turnover—crucial topics for the development of a sector that remains highly significant for Italy’s GDP and an effective instrument of soft power.
