Meloni and Macron: ‘Rome and Paris Indispensable Partners’
Antibes, June 25, 2026 – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron held their 36th intergovernmental summit yesterday in Antibes, France, reaffirming the strong and essential partnership between their two nations. The meeting, characterized by warm exchanges and a series of agreements, highlighted a renewed axis between Italy and France, crucial for the stability and strength of Europe and the Western world.
Macron, awaiting Meloni in a shirt-sleeves under the ‘scorching’ Antibes sun in front of the Picasso Museum, greeted her with smiles, hugs, and banter, signaling a clear departure from any past ‘glacial’ relations. The French President emphasized that Rome and Paris are ‘natural and indispensable partners,’ a sentiment echoed by Meloni, who stated that without Italy and France, ‘Europe and the West would not be what they are.’
Key Agreements and a New Coalition for Lebanon
Despite the intense heat on the French Riviera, which Macron himself acknowledged at the end of a lengthy joint press conference, the leaders and nine ministers from both countries signed seven agreements. These accords cover a wide range of sectors, from a roadmap for defense and space cooperation to agriculture and culture, underlining the comprehensive nature of their renewed alliance. A business forum was also held on the sidelines of the summit, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani highlighting that ‘industry is our strength.’
The most significant outcome of the one-hour face-to-face meeting, which continued with a tête-à-tête dinner, was the establishment of a ‘coalition’ for post-UNIFIL Lebanon. With the UNIFIL mission set to expire at the end of the year, both leaders stressed the need to create a new mechanism to continue supporting Lebanon and ensure an international presence. Meloni announced plans for an ‘international conference’ led by France and Italy, believing that the two countries ‘can make a difference’ in Lebanon. This initiative aims to involve ‘many European partners as well as various partners in the region’ and to establish an ‘international legal framework’ with a ‘mandate that can make a difference.’
Ukraine, Defense, Energy, and the European Budget
The rekindled rapport between Meloni and Macron also extends to a renewed commitment to Ukraine, where Meloni believes there is ‘room for a European role.’ Common projects on defense and energy were also discussed, with Macron commending Italy’s new nuclear energy law and the readiness of Italian companies to collaborate on mini-reactor projects. Furthermore, both leaders advocated for the new European budget to ensure that ‘new priorities’ are not financed at the expense of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and cohesion funds.
During the press conference, when questioned about Marine Le Pen, Meloni subtly referenced past interferences in Italian politics. ‘I respect her as anyone who has the consensus of citizens,’ she stated, ‘but I don’t think I am in a position to tell the French what is best for their future, because I didn’t appreciate it when it was done to me and to Italians.’ For the remainder of the discussion, Meloni expressed only praise for Macron, commending his management of the G7 during a ‘complex’ period.
She reiterated that there have ‘never been icy relations’ with the French President, describing their interactions as a dialogue between two leaders who ‘defend national interests’ – a sentiment echoed by Macron – and who ‘sometimes disagree.’ Meloni emphasized that relations between heads of state or government ‘are more complex than videos or expressions’ that are often ‘interpreted,’ as frequently happens to her as an ‘expressive person.’
This subtle reference also touched upon recent events, including a new, intense clash with Donald Trump, whom the Prime Minister did not explicitly name. She alluded to the ‘repeated disappointment’ of the tycoon regarding the use of Italian bases by the US in the Iran conflict, highlighting recent ‘misunderstandings’ caused by Mark Rutte’s statements on the matter.
The summit concluded with a clear message of strengthened bilateral ties and a shared vision for addressing regional and global challenges, underscoring the enduring importance of the Franco-Italian partnership.
