- Title: Italian PM Meloni pushes climate‑shock debt suspension for African states
- Date: 14th February 2026
- Summary: TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (FEBRUARY 14, 2026) (REUTERS) OPPONENTS OF THE CURRENT IRANIAN GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATING IN CANADA CARRYING FLAG WITH PHOTO OF REZA PAHLAVI, SON OF IRAN'S LAST SHAH VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING IN RALLY PROTESTERSHOLDING SIGNS WITH PAHLAVI'S FACE ON IT (SOUNDBITE) (English) PROTESTER AGAINST CURRENT IRANIAN GOVERNMENT, SAVA, SAYING: "Our people
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: africa and change climate crisis damage debt diplomacy fund giorgia italy loss meloni reparations
- Location: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
- City: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
- Country: Ethiopia
- Topics: Africa,Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002548414022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, speaking in Addis Ababa as leaders gathered for the 39th African Union summit on Saturday (February 14) said Italy and its African partners had centred their latest discussions on Africa’s growing debt burden.
She announced a broad programme to convert the debt of vulnerable African countries into investment projects and said Italy would introduce clauses allowing nations hit by extreme climate events to suspend loan repayments.
Meloni said the measures were designed to free up fiscal space for governments to support their populations and rebuild infrastructure, adding that cooperation will deepen the relationship between Africa and Italy.
Italy has made cooperation with African countries a cornerstone of its foreign policy, particularly through its "Mattei Plan," which Rome says aims to build long‑term partnerships in energy, agriculture and infrastructure.
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