Meloni meets U.S. Secretary of State Rubio at Palazzo Chigi

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Palazzo Chigi on Thursday, describing the encounter as "broad and constructive," according to officials.

The meeting drew sharply divided responses across Italy's political spectrum. Members of Meloni's governing coalition praised the talks, emphasizing that Italy remains an important partner across the Atlantic and highlighting the strength of bilateral relations between Rome and Washington.

Opposition parties offered a contrasting assessment. They characterized the meeting as evidence of Italy's political subordination to White House policies and criticized Meloni for not coordinating with European partners or challenging what they described as Trump administration military policies.

The encounter took place amid broader tensions surrounding Trump administration foreign policy positions, which have become a point of contention within Italian politics. The coalition's favorable commentary on the Meloni-Rubio discussion underscored their view of the meeting as reinforcing transatlantic ties, while opposition figures used the occasion to argue that Italy was failing to assert independent positions within European frameworks.

No detailed readout of specific policy discussions was released by either the Italian or U.S. sides beyond Meloni's characterization of the talks as constructive.