EPAItalian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni is heading to the United States to meet Donald Trump, a visit that will see her go to a quarrel between the presentation of EU interests and stay in the good books of the US President.
As the first European leader to travel to Washington since Trump presented himself-then stopped-20% of the EU tariffs earlier in April, Meloni will hopes to convince him of the merits of zero rates for the whole EU.
Italy is particularly vulnerable to any changes in trade policy in the United States.
About 10% of his exports – worth about 67 billion euros (57 billion pounds; $ 76 billion) – go to the US, the third largest trading partner out of the EU, and the tariffs announced by Trump earlier this month, made Rome reduce its growth prognosis.
“We know this is a difficult time,” Meloni said before his trip. “We will do everything possible – I am aware of what I represent and what I defend.”
At this time, it is probably one of the best-placed current European leaders who talk to Trump. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen admits this and they talk regularly before the trip.
Trump and Meloni in a certain way enjoy good relationships and have praised each other in the past. He called her “a fantastic woman” who “really took Europe from a storm”.
Meloni, for its part, has headed the right -wing coalition government since 2022 – is ideologically more close to Trump than for some of its European neighbors.
In a video message to a Conservative US Conference in February, she voiced some of Trump's common spoke points, parapering against mass migration, “globalist elites” and “awakened ideology.”
She was also the only European leader to attend the US President in January and have since been abandoned an exceptional criticism of his administration's work.
The most ranked criticism she published was earlier this month when she said Trump's decision to impose 20% EU tariffs was “absolutely wrong” and that it would eventually hurt the EU “as much as the US.”
EPA“Meloni has always said that Europe should not make any decisions that collide it with the US, and Europe should adapt rather than resist,” said Ricardo Alcaro of the Italian Institute of International Relations in Rome.
“If the Trump Administration is stationary in terms of tariffs, it will agree to counterparts. But its first move is to say no, because in the end, she thinks that the importance of the West in the world is thanks to the US and that the West revolves around the United States.”
Meloni's worldwide view is also close to that of many of Trump's main allies than many of its European neighbors.
“She knows that Italy is strategic, politically and economically subordinate to the EU – but it also has a real proximity to the republicans from Maga,” Alcaro added.
US Vice President JD Vance is due to travel to Rome on Friday to Easter and will see melons as well as leading Vatican officials.
The natural affinity of melons to an administration, which many in Europe have problems finding a common position, has caused concern among some Europeans that in the oval cabinet privacy it can be tempted to do it on its own and argue for more favorable conditions for Italy.
Last week, French Minister Mark Ferrachi spoke against “bilateral negotiations” and warned that Trump's strategy was to “divide Europeans”.
His comments annoyed Rome and had to be toned later by a spokesman for the French government.
The European Commission signals that it has confidence in Meloni, and a spokesman said “any information about the US (was) very welcome.”
However, the spokesman also said that Meloni's journey was “closely coordinated” with institutions and stressed that processing of commercial policy was a job for the EU.
The EU is negotiating on behalf of all Member States and no country can negotiate a lower tariffs in its favor.
The Meloni team seems to be clear about this and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Meloni “will not negotiate for Italy against Europe, but will support the European position.”
In the end, the mission of the Italian leader may be to emphasize Trump that the EU is willing to reach an agreement with zero tariff and to commit to buying American-especially in terms of defense and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
And in more muted tones, she can also tell him that Europe is in no hurry to make deals with China.
“I don't know how public this will be, but I think there will be some anti-Chinese discourse as an incentive for the US administration,” said Ricardo Alcaro.
At home, allies sang Meloni's praise before her plane in Washington even left the ground.
“This meeting shows the courage and growth of Georgia Meloni,” said Italy MP Augusta Montaruli – although Senator Giovanbatista Fosilari, a little less encouraging, warned that the trip would be “full of potential pitfalls”.
And opposition parties on the left in the center took advantage of the proximity of Meloni to the Trump administration.
“I have the feeling that after returning, Meloni will fly to Trump's flag, not Italy or Europe,” Pepe Provenzano of the Democratic Party (PD) said.
“I hope to be wrong.”
At the award ceremony in Rome on Tuesday, Meloni turned to a room full of entrepreneurs and business leaders – the same one who lost to the maximum of Trump's tariffs.
Looking forward to her trip to Washington, she nervously giggled.
“As you can imagine,” she jokes, “I don't feel pressure at all.”