EPA
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is heading to the US to meet Donald Trump. This is a visit to see the tightrope walk between representing the interests of the EU and staying in a good book by the President of the United States.
As the first European leader to travel to Washington since Trump introduced it — he was suspended afterwards — he placed a 20% tariff in the EU at the beginning of April.
Italy is particularly vulnerable to changes in US trade policy.
About 10% of exports – about 67 billion euros (£57 billion, $7.6 billion) – Italy’s third largest non-EU trading partner, and Rome halved its growth forecast due to tariffs announced by Trump earlier this month.
“I know this is a difficult time,” Meloni said ahead of her trip. “We’ll do our best. I know what I represent and what I defend.”
At this moment, she is probably one of the best current European leaders to talk to Trump. The European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is aware of this, and they talk regularly before their trip.
Trump and Meloni famously enjoyed a good relationship and have lavished each other in the past. He called her a “fantastic woman.”
For her, Meloni, who has led the Right-wing Union government since 2022, is ideologically closer to Trump than some of her European neighbors.
In a video message to a conservative US conference in February, she repeated several of Trump’s common story points, opposing mass migration, “globalist elites” and “awakening ideology.”
She was also the only European leader to attend the US president’s inauguration in January, and has since shunned a clear criticism of his administration’s work.
The harshest criticism she dispensed earlier this month when Trump’s decision to impose a 20% tariff on the EU was “absolutely wrong,” she said it would “defeat the “EU” as much as the US.”
EPA
Trump and Meloni last met in January
“Meloni always said that Europe should not make a decision to place it on a conflict course with the US, and that Europe should adapt rather than resist,” said Ricardo Arcaro of the Italian Institute of International Affairs in Rome.
“If the Trump administration is still in the tariffs, she would agree to anti-breath. But her first move is always to say no. Ultimately, she is owing to the importance of the world’s West to the US, and the West revolves around the US.”
Meloni’s worldview is closer to the worldview of many of Trump’s major allies than many of her European neighbors.
“She knows Italy is strategically, politically and economically subordinate to the EU, but she also has real proximity to the Maga Republicans,” added Alkaro.
US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to travel to Rome for Easter on Friday and sees Meloni and key officials from the Vatican.
Meloni’s natural affinity, where many people in Europe struggle to find a common position, has sparked concern among Europeans that in the privacy of the oval office, she might do it alone and be tempted to assert conditions more favorable for Italy.
Last week, French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci opposed the “bilateral talks” and warned that Trump’s strategy would “divide Europeans.”
His comments irritated Rome and had to be retreated later by a spokesman for the French government.
The European Commission has shown confidence in Meloni, with a spokesperson saying, “Outreaching to the US is a [was] We are very welcome.”
However, a spokesperson also said Meloni’s travel was “closely coordinated” with the agency, stressing that handling trade policy was the EU’s job.
The EU negotiates on behalf of all member states, and a single country cannot negotiate low tariffs for its own interests.
Meloni’s team seemed clear about this, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani saying that Meloni “will not negotiate for Europe and Italy, but will defend its European stance.”
Ultimately, the mission of Italian leaders might be to emphasize to Trump that the EU is eager to reach a zero-collateral agreement and commit to American purchases, particularly when it comes to defense and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
And in a quieter tone, she might also tell him that Europe is not in a hurry to make a deal with China.
“I don’t know how much of this will be made public, but I think there will be anti-Chinese discourse as an incentive for the US administration,” Ricardo Arcaro said.
At home, party allies were singing Meloni’s praises before the plane to Washington left the ground.
“This conference shows the courage and height of Giorgia Meloni,” said Italian brother (FDI) MP Augusta Montalli – Sen. Giovan Battista Fatzgali, who warned that the trip was “full of potential pitfalls.”
And the opposition party on the center left had the opportunity to be close to Meloni’s Trump administration.
“I feel that when she comes back, Meloni will fly the Trump flag rather than Italian or European,” said Democrat (PD) Peppe Provenzano.
“I want to prove I’m wrong.”
At the awards ceremony in Rome on Tuesday, Meloni addressed a room filled with entrepreneurs and business leaders.
She laughed nervously, looking forward to her trip to Washington.
“As you can imagine, she joked, “I’m not under any pressure.”
