Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Washington on 17 April for a pivotal meeting with US President Donald Trump, positioning herself as Europe’s unlikely emissary in a bid to avert a transatlantic trade war.
The visit, laden with political risk, tests Meloni’s dual role as a Trump ally and EU team player, a balancing act that could redefine Europe’s relationship with an increasingly protectionist United States.
Meloni’s rapport with Trump is unparalleled among European leaders. The US president has hailed her as a “fantastic leader” and invited her to his January inauguration, a privilege extended to no other EU head of government.
Their ideological alignment on migration, “anti-woke” policies, and scepticism of China has fuelled hopes in Brussels that Meloni might temper Trump’s tariff threats. Yet her solo mission has sparked anxiety in Paris and Berlin, where officials fear it could fracture EU unity.
The agenda is formidable: Meloni aims to negotiate reductions to Trump’s 25% auto tariffs and 10% levies on EU goods, which threaten Italy’s €61.7 billion export market in the US. Key sectors at risk include pharmaceuticals and luxury goods, with Italian car exports alone facing a €4.6 billion downturn.
Meloni’s allies have floated a “zero-zero” tariff deal for industrial goods, mirroring Elon Musk’s proposal for a transatlantic free trade zone, a concept previously rejected by US negotiators.
Trump card: leverage or liability?
Analysts warn Trump may exploit Meloni’s visit to drive wedges within the EU. Offers of sectoral exemptions–for example, sparing Italian wine or fashion–could tempt Rome to prioritise national interests over bloc solidarity.
Meloni plans to dangle increased Italian purchases of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) and pledges to boost defence spending, though Italy’s current NATO contributions (below 2% of GDP) fall far short of Trump’s 5% demand. Meanwhile, her alignment with Trump on China–criticising EU overtures to Beijing–could reshape Europe’s trade strategy.
Italy’s exports to China (€14.6 billion) pale next to those to the US, strengthening her pro-Washington stance.
However, a failed mission could erode Meloni’s domestic credibility and expose rifts in her coalition, where Deputy PM Matteo Salvini urges prioritising Italy over Europe. Conversely, concessions for Rome might embolden Trump’s “divide and conquer” strategy, undermining the EU’s unified front.
Meanwhile, former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte criticised Meloni for being “missing for months” during emergencies and appearing in public at a convenient moment.
Missing for months in the face of citizens’ emergencies, Meloni reappears to talk to us about this. She has lost all contact with the country’s problems.
Meloni’s gamble hinges on balancing Trump’s affinity with EU loyalty. While her Atlanticist credentials may buy goodwill, Trump’s transactional approach leaves little room for sentiment.
