Meloni Calls for End to US-Italy Diplomatic Row

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a return to normal relations with the United States after a public dispute with President Donald Trump, according to a statement carried by local media Monday.

Meloni's appeal came days after Trump criticized Italy's stance on trade and defense spending during a news conference at the G7 summit. The Italian leader said the two countries share a long alliance that should not be derailed by a single disagreement.

“We have to go back to working as partners,” Meloni said, according to the statement. “The relationship with the U.S. is too important for our security and economy to be affected by one incident.”

Trump had accused Italy of not contributing enough to NATO's common budget and of dragging its feet on U.S. investment deals. Italian officials privately pushed back, pointing to Rome's increased defense spending over the past two years.

The row threatened to complicate a planned visit by Meloni to Washington next month. Italian diplomats have been working behind the scenes to schedule a face-to-face meeting that could reset the tone.

Meloni's remarks were the first public signal from Rome that it wants to de-escalate. Italian markets showed little reaction Monday, with the FTSE MIB index trading flat. Yields on 10-year BTPs held steady near 3.65%.

A return to normal dialogue could unlock progress on U.S.-Italy investment in energy infrastructure, a priority for both governments. Italian exports to the U.S. totaled roughly €67 billion last year, making America Italy's largest non-EU trade partner.