Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met on Thursday at the White House with President Trump, in what his assistants have called a « commercial peace mission ».
European leaders expect The Prime Minister of the right of Italy It can place as a bridge between the Trump administration and the European Union, which Mr. Trump and his highest assistants have rejected As dead deathif not abusive partner in defense and trade.
Hope not only in Rome, but also in the EU capitals through the 27 nations block, Meloni can convince Mr. Trump not to impose the sharp tariffs he has threatened, which could devastate European economies.
Meloni and Trump seem to « bring in -well »
Meloni has positioned himself as a European leader, Mr. Trump is very likely to listen. The two have developed a relationship based on shared political and ideological affinities on issues such as immigration and LGBTQ rights.
Meloni was the only European leader who was invited to the inauguration of Mr. Trump in January, and he has praised her On several occasions, calling -the « fantastic leader and person » and someone with whom he could work to « smooth out the world ».
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After reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral In Paris last year, which was attended by the two leaders, Mr. Trump was quoted by the Post of New York saying, « I was with her a lot » and « we get along well. »
But the Italian leader will have to try to balance this special relationship in his term to protect the interests not only from the economy of his own nation, but also of the EU, with which the financial future of Italy is inextricably linked.
Europe has hope and anxiety at Trump-Meloni’s meeting
Meloni and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, discussed strategies on how to address his meeting with Mr. Trump during several telephone calls before the trip, according to a commission spokesman.
The same von der law has not yet received a meeting with Mr. Trump, despite repeated requests. Meloni’s murder at the White House will be the first with any European leader since the administration announced it Rates to virtually all nations With which the United States trade in early April. It Eu, what struck With a 20% rate blanket to all exports to the United States with this announcement, though Mr Trump Put these higher rates on hold For 90 days about a week later, as the world stock markets were removed, leaving a 10% universal rate in place.
Meloni has gently cast the EU’s tariffs as « wrong », but it was one of the voices urging the continental block not to impose retaliation measures, insisting that a quiet response focused on negotiations would lead to a more constructive resolution.
The White House claims that dozens of counties have been presented by trying to negotiate new trade agreements with the United States, with Mr. Trump presumating May the leaders call him and « kissing -my ass », begging for strike offers to prevent the reimposition of higher rates.
« We know that we go for a difficult period, let’s see how it happens in the next few hours. I do not feel any pressure, as you can imagine, during my two days, » Meloni said with a note of clear irony in a prize ceremony two days before the meeting of the White House. « I am aware of what I represent and I am aware of what I defend. »
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Not all European politicians were so sanctuaries about the potential result of the Trump-Meloni meeting. The Italian opposition politician, Carlo Calenda, said: « The most important thing is that Meloni is not allowed to use Trump to divide the European front. »
In other European capitals, there was a clear anxiety about the possibility that the White House could use the meeting to try to undermine the EU unit.
« If we begin to have bilateral debates, it will obviously break the current dynamics, » said Marc Ferracci, the French government minister for industry and energy, said Marc Ferracci, adding: « Europe is only strong if it is united. »
The French news agency AFP said that a government spokeswoman later emphasized that the voices capable of fostering the dialogue between Washington and the EU had to be welcomed. This statement echoed the statements of the EU spokesman on Monday, which said the close coordination between Meloni and von der Leyen ahead of the Italian leader’s trip to Washington and said that « dissemination is very welcome. »
After his brief visit to Washington, the Italian leader will return home, where he is expected to meet on Friday with Vice President JD Vance during his visit to the Italian capital and Vatican.
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin have met with Mr. Trump in the Oval Office since he took over his second term, but meetings arrived before the mass announcement of rates on April 2.
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