Meloni rejects Trump’s claim she begged for G7 photo, calls it false

According to World News, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denied on June 20, 2026 that she begged U.S. President Donald Trump for a photograph during the G7 summit in Évian‑les‑Bains, France, calling his claim completely fabricated. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani labelled the remarks serious and offensive, cancelling a planned U.S. trip, while Meloni said she felt compelled to respond publicly, stating Italy and she do not beg.

The exchange highlights growing tensions between Washington and Rome over issues such as the Iran conflict, Ukraine war, U.S. tariffs, and support for Israel’s operations in Gaza. For Nigerians, this underscores the volatility of traditional Western alliances that Nigeria relies on for security cooperation, investment, and diplomatic support in multilateral forums.

Given shifting alliances, should Nigeria deepen partnerships with emerging powers like China, India, or the African Union to reduce over‑reliance on any single Western bloc, or maintain strong ties with historic partners despite their unpredictability?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/20/meloni-fires-back-at-trump-denies-asking-for-g7-photo/