Rubio Heads to Rome to Mend US‑Italy‑Vatican Relations as Troops Pull Out of Germany

TL;DR: Secretary of State Marco Rubio lands in Rome Thursday‑Friday to smooth US‑Italy‑Vatican relations, coinciding with the Pentagon’s pull‑out of 5,000 troops from Germany.

Context The United States faces a diplomatic chill with Italy and the Vatican after President Trump’s public attacks on Pope Leo and Italy’s prime minister. The tension escalated when Trump threatened to pull US forces from Italy and Spain following their criticism of the US‑Israeli strike on Iran. In this climate, Rubio’s two‑day visit arrives on the first anniversary of Pope Leo’s papacy, the first US‑born pontiff.

Key Facts Rubio will meet Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on Thursday and Italy’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Antonio Tajani on Friday. A meeting with defence minister Guido Crosetto is expected, though not yet confirmed. Rubio also seeks a meeting with prime minister Giorgia Meloni, a request still pending. The trip was announced in a letter from US ambassador to Rome Tilman Fertitta, who has been working to rebuild the diplomatic bridge broken by Trump’s criticism of the pope and subsequent threats to withdraw troops. Italian daily Corriere della Sera described the mission as “not impossible, but complicated,” underscoring the delicate nature of the outreach. On Friday, the Pentagon disclosed a withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, a move prompted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s remarks that the US was being “humiliated” by Iran. The decision follows Trump’s suggestion that the troop count could rise, and mirrors earlier threats to pull forces from Italy and Spain. What It Means Rubio’s itinerary signals a coordinated effort to repair a relationship that has been eroded by public disputes and strategic disagreements. By engaging both the Italian government and the Vatican, the US aims to restore cooperation on security, especially maritime operations in the Mediterranean, and to temper the diplomatic fallout from the Iran conflict. The troop withdrawal from Germany adds pressure on European allies to align more closely with US policy, while also testing the resilience of NATO’s forward presence. Italy’s defence minister has dismissed Trump’s motives as unclear, suggesting that Rome will not concede to US pressure without reciprocal security benefits. Looking ahead, watch for the outcomes of Rubio’s meetings, any formal statements from the Vatican, and whether the US adjusts its European force posture in response to the German pull‑out and broader geopolitical tensions.