The UK Foreign Office is closely monitoring a deepening rift between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and former US President Donald Trump, sources confirmed this morning. The feud, which escalated over the weekend, has injected fresh uncertainty into transatlantic relations already strained by trade disputes and differing approaches to the Ukraine conflict.
Meloni, who has positioned herself as a bridge between European conservatives and Trump’s America First agenda, faced a public rebuke from Trump after she criticised his recent comments on NATO funding. Trump responded on his social media platform, accusing Meloni of being “a puppet of globalist elites”. The exchange has alarmed officials in London, who see Italy as a key ally in maintaining cohesion among Western nations.
The Foreign Office has convened an emergency meeting of its transatlantic team to assess potential implications for UK interests. A senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “We are watching this very carefully. A public split between two major conservative figures could embolden populist movements on both sides of the Atlantic and complicate efforts to present a united front on issues such as China and defence spending.”
The feud comes at a delicate moment. The UK is seeking to deepen its post-Brexit ties with both the United States and the European Union. Any deterioration in US-EU relations could undermine Britain’s role as a transatlantic intermediary. Furthermore, Meloni has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine, while Trump has signalled a potential shift in US policy if re-elected.
Political analysts in London draw parallels to previous transatlantic tensions under Trump’s presidency, but note that this dispute risks becoming personal. “Meloni and Trump were once seen as natural allies,” said Dr. Helena Cross, a professor of international relations at King’s College London. “This breakdown signals a realignment of right-wing politics globally. The UK must navigate this carefully to avoid being caught between two powerful, but divergent, forces.”
The Foreign Office has not issued a formal statement but is expected to release guidance to UK ambassadors in Washington and Rome later today. Officials stress that Britain remains committed to working with both Italy and the US, but the growing divergence between them poses a challenge to the stability of the Western alliance.
