 "Why Meloni's 'firsts' with Trump leave her European allies worried")
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent diplomatic engagements with US President Donald Trump have stirred unease among European allies, who fear her actions may undermine the European Union’s unified stance on critical issues such as trade and security.
Meloni’s upcoming visit to the White House on thursday (April 17) marks the first bilateral summit between a European leader and Trump since his re-election and subsequent announcement of a 90-day pause on planned tariff hikes targeting European goods.
Meloni is positioning herself as a mediator aiming to ease transatlantic trade tensions. However, not everyone agrees— especially not her European peers.
Her solo approach has drawn criticism from EU partners. French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci warned that such unilateral actions could fracture the EU’s collective bargaining power, stating, “If we start having bilateral talks, of course it’ll break this momentum”.
There is another thing complicating matters for Meloni and EU: She is set to host US Vice President JD Vance in Rome shortly after her meeting with Trump. Vance, known for his critical views on the EU’s policies regarding migration and free speech, had previously sparked outrage at the Munich Security Conference by accusing the EU of ‘weaponising climate policy’ and likening its migration stance to ‘social engineering’.
Meloni defended his remarks, calling them ‘a necessary provocation’.
Now, their upcoming meeting is expected to reinforce ideological alignments that contrast with the broader EU consensus.
Meloni’s skepticism towards the “coalition of the willing” initiative, proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to deploy European troops in Ukraine, further showcases her divergent stance. She has expressed reservations about committing Italian forces without a broader UN mandate, emphasising the need for a more inclusive and internationally sanctioned approach to peacekeeping efforts.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhile Meloni’s engagements with the US leadership aim to bolster Italy’s strategic position, they also risk creating rifts within the EU. Her actions are now the poster face of difficulty of managing national interests and the collective European unity, especially in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges.
With inputs from agencies
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