France summons Italian ambassador after insult to proposal to deploy European troops in Ukraine.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Special

France summons Italian ambassador after insult to proposal to deploy European forces in Ukraine Paris – Sea of ​​Arabs Strategic Analysis The French Foreign Ministry announced the summoning of the Italian ambassador to Paris, warning that the statements of Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, which belittled French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to deploy European forces in Ukraine after a settlement, contradict the “atmosphere of trust and historical solidarity” between the two countries. In a series of sharp statements, Salvini said, in a provocative local Italian language: “If he wants that so badly, let him go there himself, put on a helmet and carry a rifle!”, considering that Macron is stepping outside the scope of rational discussion. This is not the first confrontation; the recent period has witnessed increasing tension since Georgia Meloni's government came to power in 2022, especially regarding the Ukraine file and immigration. Behind the scenes 1. Clash between two conflicting European approaches • France adopts a policy of shared values ​​and an advanced European role in international security. • Italy, on the contrary, shows a more nationalistic orientation and reliance on a hostile policy towards foreign military involvement. 2. Confusion in the European Union regarding the Ukrainian file • France seeks to build a “coordinated alliance” that supports Ukraine, while Meloni and Salvini defend a policy of reservation on direct European military intervention, which makes it difficult to generate a unified European strategic plan. 3. Repercussions on domestic policy • Salvini's statements directly feed into the media of his right-wing popular base, but in return they weaken the image of the Italian transition towards EU partners. • Paris, for its part, treated this as an indication of the weakness of the ruling coalition in Rome in strategic decision-making. German mediation... Resetting French-Italian channels In the context of escalating tensions between Paris and Rome over Europe's role in Ukraine, Germany intervened with a delicate mediation led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz during the April 2025 summit, to avoid a diplomatic explosion that could destroy the entire European system. This mediation was not limited to reopening closed diplomatic channels, but also worked to restore damaged trust between the capitals, after a series of provocative statements from the Italian government towards the proposals of French President Emmanuel Macron. The result: restoring a pragmatic path to bilateral relations, while maintaining open lines of communication to coordinate European policies related to security, energy, the Libyan file, and support for Ukraine. At the same time, this move sends a clear message to hard-line right-wing currents in Rome that isolationism or direct provocation against European Union partners carries a high political and diplomatic cost. Strategic conclusion: Germany's intervention was not merely a correction of the course of bilateral relations, but rather a fundamental step to maintain Europe's cohesion in the face of complex external crises, and a reminder that the balance between European values ​​and national interests remains fragile and requires intelligent mediation to avoid larger cracks that could threaten the stability of the entire Union. The strategic perspective of this conflict reflects a broader crisis between European powers: • Horizontal sovereignty between unified authority and extremist national policies: the beginning of a crack in the vision of a “differentiated Europe” as a unified force, with the emergence of an Italian tendency towards individualism and subversion. • The danger of fragmenting the European consensus: France seeks to support Ukraine - a fundamental strategic position - but internal contradictions in major countries such as Italy undermine the unified European mobilization. • Macron against a rising tide: A national right-wing current challenges shared values ​​- the ambassador's decision is the beginning of the diplomatic battle, but it may be a crossroads towards a wider clash or a subdued calm under the pressure of common interests.