France has summoned Italy’s ambassador after the Italian deputy prime minister accused the French of exploiting Africa and fuelling migration.
On Sunday, Luigi di Maio called on the European Union to impose sanctions on France for its policies in Africa.
He said France had “never stopped colonising tens of African states”.
Italy’s populist leadership has repeatedly clashed with France in recent months, on issues such as migration, protests and culture.
As Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tried to soothe the row on Tuesday, highlighting the two countries’ “solid friendship”, right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini appeared to intensify it, condemning France’s Emmanuel Macron as a “terrible president”.
Ever since Italy’s Five Star and League parties came to power in June 2018 relations have been tense.
Much of the tension has been about migration. The two countries have argued over France sending back migrants across Italy’s northern border.
When France criticised Italy for not allowing rescue boats carrying migrants in the Mediterranean to dock, Italy responded by accusing France itself of refusing to accept migrants.
But the rows have spilled into other areas.
Right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini accused France last week of harbouring 14 “terrorists” wanted by Italy, after a fugitive ex-militant was extradited from Bolivia. He said they should be sent back to Italy to end up in jail, rather than “quaffing champagne under the Eiffel Tower”.
Coalition colleague Mr Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S) has found common cause with France’s “gilets jaunes” protesters, urging them not to give up and offering them “the support you need”.
What did Di Maio say?
He made his latest comments during a visit to central Italy at the weekend.
It came as the UN said about 170 migrants were feared drowned in two separate Mediterranean shipwrecks.
“The EU should impose sanctions on France and all countries like France that impoverish Africa and make these people leave, because Africans should be in Africa, not at the bottom of the Mediterranean,” he said.
“If people are leaving today it’s because European countries, France above all, have never stopped colonising dozens of African countries.”
He said if it wasn’t for Africa, France would rank 15th among world economies, not in the top six.
The Italian ambassador to France, Teresa Castaldo, was summoned to the foreign ministry in Paris on Monday.
French diplomatic sources quoted by Italian news agency Ansa called Mr Di Maio’s remarks “hostile and without cause given the partnership between France and Italy in the European Union”.