Rubio backs NATO in Rome as US-Italy tensions simmer

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared himself "a strong supporter of NATO" after talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday, as political friction between the two allies brews. The atmosphere during the visit was notably warmer than in recent weeks. Rubio spoke partly in Spanish during the meetings, joking that the language was "very similar" to Italian. He also said he had been trying to learn Italian himself, but that his subscription to language app Babbel had expired.