Overview

• Macron traveled to Rome on June 3 to engage Meloni following tensions over her absence from his Kyiv visit and contrasting Ukraine policies.
• The leaders debated Ukraine aid frameworks with Macron advocating a “coalition of the willing” for post-ceasefire security guarantees and Meloni rejecting troop deployments.
• EU-US trade matters topped the agenda as they reviewed US tariffs on European exports and hurdles facing the Mercosur agreement.
• The encounter signaled a diplomatic reset in Franco-Italian ties after strains over differing approaches to US President Donald Trump and calls for European autonomy.
• Both leaders stressed the need for ongoing dialogue to reconcile gaps on defense cooperation and bolster bilateral industrial collaboration.