Rubio Heads To Rome, Vatican As Iran War Strains US Ties With Europe

(Alex Raufoglu – RFE/RL) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Rome and the Vatican on May 6-8 in what officials describe as an effort to shore up strained ties with key European partners as the war in Iran deepens divisions across the Atlantic. According to a State Department announcement, the trip will serve to “advance bilateral relations.”. Rubio is set to meet with Holy See leadership to discuss the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere. “Meetings with Italian counterparts will focus on shared security interests and strategic alignment,” spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on May 4. A former senior State Department official who spoke to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity said the timing of the trip signals its importance. “Secretary Rubio’s trip is an important step in diplomacy,” the ex-official said, adding that the face he is taking the trip at this time is an indication of how much the administration of US President Donald Trump “values the relationship with Italy and the Holy See.”. The visit comes against a backdrop of increasing tensions between Washington and its European allies over both the Iran conflict and broader policy disagreements, including trade and military commitments. – Rubio Heads To Rome, Vatican As Iran War Strains US Ties With Europe