Italy angered by supposed land grab by France on top of Mont Blanc

An icy chill has descended over relations between Italy and France over who owns Mont Blanc – or to the Italians, Monte Bianco. The diplomatic spat stems from an ordnance issued by the French authorities which is designed to protect Western Europe’s highest mountain from environmental damage. That includes limiting the number of paragliders allowed to swoop from its wind-blasted peaks and ridges as well as blocking ill-equipped hikers who sometimes set off in jeans and trainers. But to the fury of some Italians, the ordnance included not just the French side of the border, but also a chunk of Italian territory. Luigi Di Maio, Italy’s foreign minister, wrote a formal letter of complaint to the Macron government on Wednesday, expressing “strong disappointment” over the supposed land grab.

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