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Dhaka, August 21, 2025 – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has canceled her anticipated two-day visit to Bangladesh, originally scheduled for August 30, citing urgent commitments related to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, a senior official from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday. The decision also affects her planned tour of four other Asian nations—Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan—where she was set to engage in high-level diplomatic discussions.
Invited by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Meloni was expected to arrive in Dhaka with her daughter for a meeting on August 31. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that preparations for her visit were nearly finalized. However, Italy’s critical role in NATO and its involvement in mediating talks between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine war led to the postponement. A diplomatic source revealed that the Italian Embassy in Dhaka communicated the cancellation, emphasizing Meloni’s need to prioritize European security concerns amid escalating tensions.
Meloni has been a vocal advocate for supporting Ukraine, recently pushing for enhanced NATO coordination to counter Russian advances. The cancellation underscores the gravity of the Ukraine situation, which has overshadowed her Asia tour, initially set to begin with Bangladesh. The move reflects Italy’s strategic focus on maintaining Western unity, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration navigates complex negotiations with Kyiv and Moscow.
