France and Italy will launch a multinational coalition to succeed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) once its mandate expires, the two governments announced at a bilateral summit in Antibes on the French Riviera. The initiative, to be developed in coordination with the European Union and the United Nations, aims to prevent what Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described as an “extremely dangerous security vacuum” and to reinforce the Lebanese state’s monopoly on the use of force. French President Emmanuel Macron stated the new force would help ensure Lebanon does not become “a foothold for regional escalation” between Hezbollah and Israel.

According to French and Italian officials, the coalition is intended to provide a continued international presence after UNIFIL’s scheduled termination on 31 December 2026, a date set by the UN Security Council under pressure from the United States and Israel. The existing mission, deployed since 1978 and expanded after the 2006 war, has been unable to enforce the disarmament of Hezbollah as required by Resolution 1701. Paris and Rome, both major troop contributors, are now seeking to convene an international conference to define the new force’s legal framework, composition, and mandate, with Meloni indicating that “many European partners but also several partners from the region” would be involved. No timeline for the conference has been set.

The Lebanon announcement came as Macron and Meloni publicly reset a relationship that had been marked by tensions over migration and European policy. Both leaders described their ties as “warm” and “not glacial,” with Macron noting that “we all live in the same climate, which is hot.” The summit also produced agreements on defence cooperation, including a roadmap for the SAMP/T air-defence system, as well as on space, nuclear energy, and cross-border infrastructure. On migration, the two sides agreed to create a joint operational team to combat irregular arrivals, implementing the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Separately, Meloni addressed remarks by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who had suggested that US operations against Iran were conducted from Italian bases. The Italian premier called Rutte’s account an “enthusiastic and confusing reconstruction” and stressed that Rome had authorised only logistical and technical support, not offensive missions. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani subsequently contacted his Iranian counterpart to clarify Italy’s position, reflecting Rome’s concern over Tehran’s reaction. The next concrete step on Lebanon is the planned international conference, which French and Italian diplomats are expected to begin organising in the coming weeks.