Macron and Meloni Meet in Antibes for Strategic Talks
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday for a bilateral summit in Antibes, French Riviera, aiming to strengthen ties between the European Union's second- and third-largest economies. The meeting comes shortly after Meloni distanced herself from US President Donald Trump following a series of what she called 'constant, unprovoked attacks' during a G7 summit in France.
The summit marks the first Franco-Italian bilateral meeting since a treaty on a strategic alliance came into force in 2021, elevating relations to a level comparable to that between France and Germany. Talks were held at the Villa Eilenroc, a 19th-century residence overlooking the Mediterranean.
Key Areas of Cooperation: Defense, Nuclear Energy, and Space
The French presidency stated that the summit would focus on deepening cooperation in strategic sectors, including defense, nuclear energy, and space. 'This summit will provide an opportunity to deepen Franco-Italian cooperation in several strategic sectors, notably defense, nuclear energy, and space,' the presidency said. 'We need each other,' it added ahead of the talks.
On Thursday, the two countries were expected to sign a roadmap on defense, particularly emphasizing the Franco-Italian SAMP/T air defense system delivered to Ukraine. A cooperation agreement in nuclear energy was also on the agenda, along with another deal concerning the planned European satellite powerhouse to rival Elon Musk's Starlink.
Strained Relations but Signs of Rapprochement
Relations between Macron, a pro-European centrist, and Meloni, who leads a coalition of right and far-right parties, have often been strained. While not natural allies, the two leaders have worked to ease tensions. In June last year, they held a lengthy one-on-one meeting in Rome. In April, Meloni arrived at the Elysee in a red Alfa Romeo for a summit on securing the Strait of Hormuz, and Macron greeted her with an enthusiastic double kiss that went viral.
Marc Lazar, an Italy specialist at Sciences Po in Paris, noted that Meloni and Macron would try to build on a nascent rapprochement despite lingering 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.
Divergences on Ukraine and Migration
Despite shared opposition to the EU's free trade agreement with South America's Mercosur bloc, the two leaders remain divided on other issues. Unlike Macron, Meloni opposes sending Italian troops to Ukraine, even in a post-war scenario, to provide security guarantees to Kyiv. Italy also pushes for migrant detention centers outside the European Union, a stance Macron does not share.
Sergio Fabbrini, a political science lecturer at Rome's Luiss University, highlighted the 'asymmetry' between the two leaders. 'Macron is strong at the European level but weak at home, while Meloni is very strong domestically but weak at the European level. This asymmetry makes the meeting difficult and complicated,' Fabbrini said.
Meloni's Shift Away from Trump
Meloni had long sought to position herself as a bridge between Europe and Trump. However, following the G7 summit, she distanced herself from the US leader. Fabbrini argued that Meloni had used her relationship with Trump 'to weaken the European Union' but now 'finds herself without Trump and is forced to return to the European Union, particularly in terms of defense.' Lazar added that Meloni's rift with Trump 'can only please Emmanuel Macron.'
