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Description
Spanish Caudillo Francisco Franco with Italian Duce Benito Mussolini in Bordighera, Italy in February 1941.

The meeting between Franco and Mussolini involved discussions over both leaders being interested in forming a Latin Bloc of France, Italy, and Spain for them to be able to hold significant influence in Europe following the rise of Germany's power in its victories in eastern and western Europe in World War II. Franco and Mussolini agreed in principle to the development of a Latin Bloc. Franco following the trend in Germany and Italy towards expansion also intended to expand Spain by annexing Portugal and Gibraltar held by Britain if it was possible to do so without a long protracted war with Britain as Spain was still recovering from the damages of the Spanish Civil War. Franco met with French leader Philippe Petain to discuss the idea of the Latin Bloc prior to meeting Mussolini.

Description
Spanish Caudillo Francisco Franco with Italian Duce Benito Mussolini in Bordighera, Italy in February 1941.

The meeting between Franco and Mussolini involved discussions over both leaders being interested in forming a Latin Bloc of France, Italy, and Spain for them to be able to hold significant influence in Europe following the rise of Germany's power in its victories in eastern and western Europe in World War II. Franco and Mussolini agreed in principle to the development of a Latin Bloc. Franco following the trend in Germany and Italy towards expansion also intended to expand Spain by annexing Portugal and Gibraltar held by Britain if it was possible to do so without a long protracted war with Britain as Spain was still recovering from the damages of the Spanish Civil War. Franco met with French leader Philippe Petain to discuss the idea of the Latin Bloc prior to meeting Mussolini.