On June 4, local time, Italian Prime Minister Meloni met with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Rome. The meeting between the two leaders focused on EU competitiveness, defense, the U.S.-EU transatlantic relationship, and support for Ukraine. The meeting was initiated by the French side, and the arrangements for the meeting were very low-key. The talks lasted about three hours, and the leaders of the two countries did not meet with reporters together. But according to a joint statement issued by the two sides, the two leaders pledged to work together to build a more autonomous, stronger and more prosperous Europe. After the talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, the support of France and Italy for Ukraine was very necessary. At the same time, major changes need to be made in the field of European defense. The two leaders also discussed issues in the Middle East and Libya, and coordinated their positions on transatlantic relations and the EU's economic and trade security.