ANKARA: US President Donald Trump struck a more conciliatory tone towards Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday, appearing to ease weeks of diplomatic tensions as he arrived in Ankara for a key NATO summit.
Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump described Meloni as “a nice person” despite acknowledging that relations between the two leaders had recently deteriorated.
What Triggered the Diplomatic Dispute?
The diplomatic row began last month after Trump claimed during an interview with an Italian television channel that Meloni had “begged” him for a photograph during the G7 Summit and that he agreed only because he “felt sorry for her.”
Meloni rejected the allegation, calling it fabricated, while Trump later reinforced his claims, escalating tensions between the two leaders.
The dispute intensified over the weekend after Trump posted an edited image of Meloni on his Truth Social platform accompanied by the caption, “Restraining Order Needed.”
Why Did Trump Criticise Meloni?
During Tuesday’s remarks, Trump linked the disagreement to Italy’s position on the conflict involving Iran.
He said he was disappointed that Italy had declined to become involved in developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that Meloni had failed to support the United States during the regional crisis.
Despite the criticism, Trump said he still viewed the Italian prime minister positively, adding that she had simply “made a mistake.”
Why Is the NATO Summit Significant?
Trump’s comments came as NATO leaders gathered in Ankara amid continued discussions over alliance defence commitments and regional security challenges.
The US president has repeatedly urged European NATO members to increase defence spending and assume a greater share of the alliance’s security responsibilities.
European allies are expected to highlight higher defence expenditures during the summit as they seek to ease tensions with Washington over burden-sharing and collective security.