Macron’s Meloni Snub Lays Bare the Strain on France-Italy Ties
- Longstanding animosity flared up over a dinner invitation
- Tensions could undermine newly enacted collaboration pact
This article is for subscribers only.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni didn’t paper over her contempt for the French President this past week – and Emmanuel Macron made clear that the feeling was mutual.
The spat took place on Thursday after Volodymyr Zelenskiy met Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Ukrainian leader’s request for dinner at the presidential Elysée Palace. Meloni, who was not informed about the dinner ahead of time – or offered a seat at the table – characterized the meeting as “inappropriate,” prompting Macron to retort that France and Germany have a “special role” in supporting Ukraine.