Rubio said he will travel Wednesday to Italy, meeting Pope Leo and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday amid strains over the U.S.-Iran conflict.
He described US military support for ships in the Strait of Hormuz as defensive and warned Tehran its actions risk catastrophic, generational economic damage.
The visit comes as Trump presses allies to align against Iran, while Meloni resists reducing the nearly 13,000 US troops stationed across six Italian bases.
Can Secretary Rubio mend ties with European allies who are distancing themselves from America's confrontational Iran policy?
With the U.S. pausing its naval escort mission, what will truly reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz for global trade?
As Gulf tensions spike global food prices, what is the world's plan to prevent mass starvation in vulnerable nations?