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Macron hosts Meloni for Riviera talks after Italian leader's fallout with Trump
France 24 • • world
Key Points:
- Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met French President Emmanuel Macron in Antibes for their first bilateral summit since a 2021 strategic alliance treaty elevated Franco-Italian relations to a level comparable to France-Germany ties.
- The summit aimed to deepen cooperation in key sectors such as defence, nuclear energy, and space, with agreements expected on the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defence system, nuclear energy, and a European satellite project.
- Despite historical tensions and differing views on issues like migrant detention centers and military support for Ukraine, Meloni and Macron have worked to ease relations, especially after Meloni distanced herself from former US President Donald Trump.
- Analysts note an asymmetry in the leaders' strengths, with Macron being strong in European affairs but weaker domestically, and Meloni strong in Italy but less influential in Europe, making the partnership complex.
- Both leaders share opposition to the EU's free trade agreement with Mercosur but remain divided on several key policy issues, highlighting ongoing challenges in their cooperation.
