‘Allies, not vassals’: How Meloni’s break with Trump became a political moment for Italy.
17 April 2026
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is managing the repercussions of a public rebuke from US President Trump over the pope, Iran and a defence deal with Israel.
The rupture had been building since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran and may ultimately serve her political interests ahead of 2027 elections.
The rupture had been building since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran and may ultimately serve her political interests ahead of 2027 elections.