French President Emmanuel Macron will welcome Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the French Riviera resort of Antibes, as the two leaders aim to strengthen ties that have historically been punctuated by tension, rivalry and divergent politics.
Meloni, a leading right‑wing figure in Europe, is scheduled to arrive on the French Riviera this Thursday for her inaugural bilateral summit with Macron. The encounter comes at a delicate juncture for the Italian prime minister, following a public split with U.S. President Donald Trump, and arrives as France and Italy seek to broaden collaboration on key strategic issues facing Europe.
The talks will take place at Villa Eilenroc, a striking 19th‑century residence overlooking the Mediterranean. It will be the first such meeting since a treaty on a strategic alliance between France and Italy entered into force in 2021, positioning bilateral relations on a more ambitious footing and bringing them nearer to the level of cooperation traditionally associated with France and Germany.
The French presidency said the summit would offer a chance to strengthen Franco‑Italian cooperation in several key areas, including defence, nuclear energy and space. “We need each other,” it said ahead of the talks.
A cautious rapprochement
Relations between Macron, a pro‑European centrist, and Meloni, who leads a coalition of right and far‑right parties, have not always been easy. The leaders of the European Union’s second‑ and third‑largest economies are not natural political allies, and their governments have clashed over issues such as migration, trade and the war in Ukraine.
Yet both sides have made efforts to lower the temperature. A lengthy one‑on‑one meeting in Rome in June last year helped ease some of the friction, and more recent encounters have suggested a willingness to keep dialogue open.
In April, while the leaders met in Paris for a summit on securing the Strait of Hormuz, Meloni arrived at the Élysée Palace in a red Alfa Romeo. Macron greeted her warmly; the exchange ended with a double kiss, an unexpected moment that went viral, eliciting smiles from both leaders.
Marc Lazar, an Italy specialist at Sciences Po in Paris, said the Antibes summit was likely to build on a still fragile rapprochement, despite persistent disagreements.
“There will be photos; they’ll kiss each other warmly on both cheeks, and she’ll stop sulking when she sees Macron,” Lazar said.
The changing international backdrop may also help. Meloni had long sought to present herself as a bridge between Europe and Trump. But after a G7 summit in France, she distanced herself from the U.S. leader over what she described as his “constant, unprovoked attacks.”
“That can only please Emmanuel Macron,” Lazar added.
Defence, energy and space on the agenda
Despite their political differences, Macron and Meloni have found common ground on some issues. Both oppose the European Union’s free trade agreement with South America’s Mercosur bloc, reflecting concerns in France and Italy about its impact on farmers and industry.
However, sharp divisions remain. Italy has advocated for migrant detention centres outside the European Union, an idea on which Paris and Rome have not been fully aligned. Meloni also opposes sending Italian troops to Ukraine, even after a possible end to the war, a position that differs from Macron’s more forward‑leaning approach.
Defence cooperation will be central to Thursday’s summit. The two countries are expected to sign a roadmap in the sector, with particular emphasis on the Franco‑Italian SAMP/T air defence system that has been delivered to Ukraine.
The leaders are also expected to sign a cooperation agreement on nuclear energy, an area where France is keen to deepen European partnerships. A further agreement is planned on a European satellite project intended to create a powerful rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink.
(With newswires)
