Marco Rubio travels to Rome for talks with Pope and Giorgia Meloni
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 6
Marco Rubio travels to Rome for talks with Pope and Giorgia Meloni
12 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 6
He arrives as Trump plans to pull 5,000 US troops from Germany and threatens similar moves in Italy and Spain after attacking Pope Leo XIV.
Rubio said the trip was planned earlier and will focus on shared interests with the Vatican, including humanitarian aid in Cuba and religious freedom in Africa.
The visit highlights Rubio's role as a softer diplomatic face for Trump amid wider strains with Europe and contrasts with Vice-President JD Vance's more openly isolationist approach.
With US troops leaving and tariffs looming, can Rubio's diplomatic mission actually mend frayed ties with Europe?
As the US pivots its focus away from Europe, what does a new era of European self-defense really look like?