Overview
- In Rome, the two governments signed an Action Plan for Strategic Cooperation and a defense and security declaration during cabinet‑level consultations.
- The defense document sets out closer collaboration on deployments, missions, crisis management, and training, with industry cooperation to be explored in air and missile defense, warship construction, and air combat systems.
- The Action Plan commits both countries to push a stronger EU focus on competitiveness, including a significant cut to regulatory burdens and a systematic review of existing rules at the next European summit.
- Leaders Friedrich Merz and Giorgia Meloni highlighted unusually close alignment, reaffirmed support for Ukraine, and convened a joint business forum to press productivity and market‑scale goals.
- Coverage links the alignment to shared economic interests and handling of shifting U.S. policies under President Donald Trump, while noting remaining differences on financing tools and fiscal approaches.