The latest
Donald Trump’s once-friendly relationship with Giorgia Meloni has turned into a political strain as NATO leaders gather in Ankara, where the U.S. president is pressing allies to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP. The Times reported that the rupture has been fueled by disputes over Iran, the pope and Italy’s military commitments.
Details
• The public jab: The Times said Trump posted on Truth Social that he might need a “restraining order” against Meloni.
• Italian backlash: The report said the remark triggered criticism in Italy, including from Meloni’s rivals, while Italian newspapers hit back at Trump.
• Iran dispute: European reports said the relationship worsened after Meloni refused to back Trump’s Iran war and defended the pope after he criticized the bombing.
• NATO pressure: The Ankara summit is centered on Trump’s demand that allies lift defense spending to 5% of GDP.
• Italy’s dilemma: The Times linked the tensions to U.S. doubts over whether Rome is ready to carry a bigger role on NATO’s southern flank.
Between the lines
Meloni built part of her European profile on being able to talk to Trump in the language of the Western right. But Iran, NATO spending and Trump’s public attacks have turned that access into a domestic and diplomatic burden.
What to watch
The Ankara test is whether Meloni and Trump meet face to face, what formula Rome offers on the 5% spending target, and how the rupture affects southern Europe’s posture on Iran and the Mediterranean.
