Meloni is expected to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his visit, and diplomats say a meeting with Hungary’s Péter Magyar is also under discussion. Warsaw is seeking closer defense ties with Rome, while Rubio’s visit comes amid rising tensions between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over US policy in the Iran war and broader strains between Washington, the Vatican and European allies. Trump has ordered a 5,000‑strong reduction in US forces stationed in Germany and has warned that Italy and Spain could “probably” face troop cuts as well over their stance on the Iran war.
