Italy's Meloni takes center stage in EU‑US relations tug‑of-war
European leaders hope that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni can persuade U.S. President Donald Trump not to impose tariffs on the EU and to continue supporting Ukraine, according to the Financial Times on Thursday. Meloni's party has maintained long-standing connections with Republicans in the U.S. and the Trump sphere.
"During Trump's first term, Meloni was a politician on the fringes of the far-right, who eagerly admired the U.S. president but didn't have much influence in the country, let alone in Europe. Now, European leaders hope that Meloni, whom Trump described as a 'fantastic woman,' will appease him," writes Amy Kazmin, a columnist for the British newspaper.
The author notes that Italy was the only EU country represented at the inauguration of the new U.S. president, and Meloni even visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence before the swearing-in. During this visit, Meloni discussed the release of an Italian journalist from Iranian detention with Trump, celebrated as her 'diplomatic victory.'
The "FT" highlights that the Brothers of Italy, Meloni’s party, have long nurtured ties with Republicans in the U.S. and Trump’s circle. In 2018, Trump’s then-chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was a special guest at the party’s congress.
Meloni herself has developed strong personal and political relationships with billionaire Elon Musk over several years. Musk has assumed a leading role in the new U.S. administration’s "Department of State Efficiency" (DOGE).
"Meloni may weaken Europe's position"
However, according to Beniamino Irdi from the Atlantic Council think tank, Meloni might face challenges in acting as a European envoy in discussions with Trump. "It’s unclear how interested Trump is in maintaining strong relationships with Europe. He has always favored bilateral relations with individual countries that have authority and power," Irdi explained.
Former Italian representative to NATO Stefano Stefanini believes that Meloni could potentially weaken Europe’s standing with the U.S. "If Meloni maintains good bilateral relations with Washington, it could suggest to other European leaders that this is the best way to engage with the Trump administration—not through Brussels. This could weaken the EU, and a weak EU is what Trump wants," claimed the diplomat.
