A brief moment from a diplomatic meeting in Rome has taken social media by storm after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s reaction to meeting Mozambique President Daniel Francisco Chapo was caught on camera.The video, dated December 11, shows Meloni greeting the towering Mozambican leader at Palazzo Chigi.As she looks up at the nearly 6’8” president, her visibly surprised expression quickly became the highlight of the clip. The two leaders then shook hands and posed for photographs, but not before the striking height difference stole the spotlight online.
The moment sparked a flood of memes and humorous reactions, with several users noting the logistical challenge it posed for photographers. According to social media posts, some journalists were reportedly forced to squat, while others even lay flat on their stomachs to capture both leaders within the same frame.Social media users were quick to react. One wrote, “When Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, journalists, especially photographers, struggled to frame their shots because of the significant height difference.”Another joked, “Haha! Meloni’s neck must be aching.” A third quipped, “At first I thought she was kneeling.”Beyond the viral moment, the meeting itself focused on substantive diplomatic issues. In a post on X, Meloni said she had received President Chapo to mark the 50th anniversary of Mozambique’s independence and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. She said the talks reaffirmed the importance of the bilateral partnership and the shared commitment to joint initiatives under Italy’s Mattei Plan.According to Meloni, discussions covered cooperation in key areas including access to energy, sustainable agriculture, vocational training, digitalisation and strengthening healthcare services. The two sides also agreed to work towards boosting trade ties, citing the complementary nature of their economies and the role of Italian energy major ENI in Mozambique’s liquefied natural gas sector.Agreements were also concluded to strengthen cooperation in judicial assistance, civil protection and digitalisation.
