Italy and the UK strengthen amidst global challenges

Rome: Prime Ministers Meloni and Starmer met at Blenheim Palace to strengthen the longstanding partnership between their nations, with a focus on migration and international cooperation despite their political differences

Unity amidst divergence. On Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with her British counterpart Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the European Political Community gathering at Blenheim Palace.

Despite their ideological differences, the meeting highlighted the strong and lasting relationship between Italy and the UK.

There is a tradition of solid and converging relations between the two nations, which goes beyond political alignments and ensures the strength of their foundational ties.

This gathering also continued discussions that began at the NATO Summit in Washington, with a focus on cooperating in crisis areas and combating human traffickers.

London calling. At a press conference after the meeting, Starmer emphasised the importance of maintaining strong UK-Italy relations.

Concluding their discussions, the two leaders agreed to maintain close coordination on major international issues and global challenges, with plans for PM Starmer to visit Rome soon to further solidify their partnership.

Migration allies. The issue of migration, a significant topic for both governments, was a focal point of the discussions.

With the Labour Party’s recent announcement to end the “Rwanda policy” and establish a new Border Security Command, the UK is searching for new strategies to manage immigration.

Starmer sees Meloni as a crucial ally in this effort, given her commitment to reforming EU migration rules. This cooperation was evident in their joint leadership of a session on illegal migration at the meeting of the European Political Community.

The Times recently reported that despite their political differences, Starmer recognises Meloni’s strategic importance in addressing migration. “Meloni has paved the way in Europe on this issue, and it makes strategic sense for us to build this relationship,” a UK government source noted.

Alliance blueprint. The key foundation of this relationship is the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation, signed in April 2023.

This document outlines several important areas of partnership, such as annual 2+2 meetings on Foreign Affairs and Defence, as well as joint efforts in global security, economic growth, climate change, and cultural exchange.

The agreement also aims to strengthen financial ties and encourage collaboration between the private sectors, solidifying the economic linkages that have historically benefited both countries.