Meloni and Rubio: an hour and a half to talk about missiles and oil

Published on May 08, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Palazzo Chigi for a 90-minute meeting. The dialogue revolved around tensions with Iran, where Rubio urged Tehran to present a serious proposal to de-escalate the conflict. Additionally, he warned that any missile attack against the US in the Strait of Hormuz will receive a forceful response.

Two leaders in a formal meeting room, with maps of the Middle East and missile models on the table.

The Strait of Hormuz: a bottleneck for energy technology 🌍

The Strait of Hormuz is not only a geopolitical flashpoint but also a logistical node for global energy technology. About 20% of the world's crude oil passes through its waters, making it a sensitive point for the development of refining and transportation infrastructure. Any disruption to this route would affect the supply chain of components for solar panels and wind turbines, which rely on petroleum derivatives for their manufacturing and distribution.

Rubio warns: if they launch missiles, they will respond with electricity bills ⚡

Rubio made it clear that if Iran launches a missile at US vessels, the response will be immediate. Meanwhile, in Italy, Meloni took notes and thought about how to explain to her citizens that the price of coffee could rise because of a missile in the Middle East. In the end, diplomacy is like Wi-Fi: when it fails, everyone complains, but no one knows exactly how to fix it.