US Vice President J.D. Vance arrived in Rome on Friday for talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ahead of Easter celebrations at the Vatican.
Meloni shares conservative views with Vance and President Donald Trump, who she met in Washington earlier with.
The tariffs imposed by Trump could have a major impact on Italy, the world’s fourth-largest exporter, which sends about 10 per cent of its exports to the United States.
Vance is scheduled to meet with Meloni and also speak with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, the second most important official of the Holy See after the pope.
Vance, 40, who converted to Catholicism in his early 30s, was travelling with his wife and three young children to celebrate Easter at the Vatican on Sunday.
Meloni was the first leader from Europe to visit Trump since he imposed 20 per cent tariffs on EU exports, which have since been suspended for 90 days.
On 17 April, Meloni invited Trump to Italy for a summit with the EU. She expressed confidence that the sides would be able to reach an agreement on the tariffs. The Italian Prime Minister believes that Trump and the heads of European countries should “meet in the middle” and talk frankly about everything.
Trump said that a trade agreement with the European Union will be concluded within 90 days. The American leader also noted that the US is “in no hurry” to sign trade agreements with other countries, emphasising quality over speed.
