Meloni's diplomatic challenge: Balancing EU interests with Trump
European leaders are hopeful that the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, will persuade U.S. President Donald Trump not to impose tariffs on the EU and to continue supporting Ukraine, reports the "Financial Times" on Thursday. Meloni's party has long maintained connections with the 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 wield much influence in Italy, let alone in Europe. Now, European leaders hope that Meloni, whom Trump described as a 'fantastic woman,' will appease him," states Amy Kazmin, columnist for the British newspaper.
The author observes that Meloni was the only EU country leader present at the inauguration of the new U.S. president, and even before the swearing-in, she visited him at his Mar-a-Lago residence. Meloni then discussed with Trump the release of an Italian journalist detained in Iran, which was heralded as her "diplomatic victory."
The Brothers of Italy, Meloni's party, have long maintained connections with Republicans in the U.S. and the Trump network, the "FT" highlights. In 2018, Trump's then-chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was the guest of honour at the party's congress.
Meloni herself has maintained strong private and political relationships with billionaire Elon Musk for several years, who has taken 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 may find it challenging to play the role of European envoy in discussions with Trump. "It's unclear how interested Trump is in maintaining solid relationships with Europe. He has always shown a preference for bilateral relations with individual countries that have authority and power," he explained.
Former Italian representative to NATO, Stefano Stefanini, believes that Meloni may even weaken Europe's position in relation to the U.S. "If Meloni maintains strong bilateral relations with Washington, it will demonstrate to other European leaders that this is the most effective way to communicate with the Trump administration—not through Brussels. This will undermine the EU, and a weakened EU is what Trump desires," asserts the diplomat.
