France recalled Italy's ambassador after a rudely worded criticism by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini. Salvini was prompted to respond to President Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of sending European troops into post-war Ukraine. In a derisive response, the Italian deputy PM with a voice laced with Milanese slang told Macron to "put on your helmet, your jacket, your rifle and you go to Ukraine," essentially telling him to "scram.".
Paris publicly called the remarks “unacceptable,” saying they undermined years of diplomatic trust and the historic ties between the two nations. The ambassador, Emanuela D'Alessandro, was summoned on Friday. French officials emphasized that the incendiary language contradicted recent progress in bilateral cooperation especially their united front in supporting Ukraine.
This is not the first time Salvini has mocked Macron. The deputy PM, who is part of the far-right League party and works under Italy's right-wing government, has also mocked the French president before with terms such as "warmonger," "madman," "bombardier," and "chatterbox".
Franco-Italian relations have been strained for a long time. The tensions started in 2018 when Italy's populist administration blamed France for being hypocritical regarding migrant rescue politics. Disagreements have arisen on topics ranging from North African policy to economic strategy since then. The latest confrontation adds another chapter to their tumultuous past.
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