It was a particularly warm meeting between our premier and the American president: on the table duties, defense and immigration
The bank between Rome and Washington is strengthened. In fact, it was a particularly warm meeting, the one just held between Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump in Washington. The American president reiterated his esteem for the tenant of Palazzo Chigi, recognizing them de facto The role of mediator between the United States and the European Union on the issue of duties. On the other hand, Meloni was the first EU leader who was received by Trump after the tariff increases announced in early April. And, perhaps for the first time for a long time, the American president, meeting our premier, showed optimism towards the possibility of a commercial agreement with Brussels.
“I would like to invite President Trump to make an official visit to our country and would like to organize a meeting with Europe,” Meloni said on his arrival at the White House. “I believe that we should speak frankly and find yourself halfway,” he continued, while underlining that he cannot “make an agreement on behalf of the EU”. “We can find an understanding ground, I am not in favor of western nationalism but both can go out stronger, we want to strengthen both the banks of the Atlantic,” he added. “I am sure that an agreement can be achieved,” he continued. For his part, after having defined Meloni an “exceptional person”, the American president said he was “very confident” about the possibility of a commercial understanding with the EU, adding that “there will be very few problems” to conclude it.
As known, the commercial question intersects with that of economic contributions to the Atlantic alliance. Trump pushes that European allies do more, also to face the delicate issue of American debt. In this sense, Meloni has ensured an increase in Italian commitment. “Italy will announce to the next NATO summit that will increase expenses to 2% as required. Europe is committed to doing more, it is working on the tools to allow and help member states to increase the expenses for the defense. We are convinced that everyone must do more,” he said. Of course, the American president aims to put the bar higher. However, the announcement of the square of Palazzo Chigi is to be read as a hand tense to Trump on a question that is particularly close to him. “We didn’t talk about Starlink, we talked about defense, space, we will work together for the missions on Mars,” Meloni also made it known. Not only that. The two leaders showed a significant harmony also on the dossier of contrast to illegal immigration.
Obviously many knots of the relationship between the United States and the EU remain on the table. However, it is not exaggerated to say that the face -to -face between the tenant of Palazzo Chigi and that of the White House has opened a first glimpse of District. The goal of Meloni was not realistically that of obtaining the repeal of the duties sic et simpliciterbut to lay solid foundations to open a commercial negotiation between the USA and the EU: an objective that, according to the words of Trump himself, has been achieved. On the other hand, the line of our premier is known: he is trying to strengthen transatlantic relationships, to ward off that Brussels adopts a useless and pernicious wall against Washington against Wall. Moreover, in Trump’s eyes, Meloni is reliable precisely because his government, in December 2023, decided not to renew the Memorandum in agreement on the new Silk Road. On the other hand, today there are those who in Europe – think for example in Germany and Spain – are pushing for Brussels to approach Beijing more. A perspective, the latter, who is not a benvista at the White House. This is why Italy, despite all the precautions of the case, can play a significant role in bringing the two banks of the Atlantic closer. “Italy can be the best ally in the United States if Meloni remains premier,” said Trump during the meeting.
