The Prime Minister's Trip to Washington Giorgia Meloni, who will meet the American president today Donald Trump, can oscillate – depending on the point of view – between a “voyage of hope” capable of opening some glimmer of hope in the difficult transatlantic relations, or a banal courtesy visit destined to end in a simple “photo opportunity”, useful only from the point of view of media coverage.
Meloni is very keen to bring a Opening message and availability on the part of the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen (who – incidentally – is not taking well, on a personal level, the continued delays in scheduling a meeting with Trump).
Meloni seeks clarity on Trump's moves
Today's interview could be useful to understand which of the actions announced by Trump have a medium-term perspective and which are instead intended for longer periods. Moreover, the Italian Prime Minister should also be aware that to carry out the functions of "bridge" between the two sides of the Atlantic one should first of all have a clear vision of the two shores, and Trump's is not at all.
However, the US President's willingness to grant a few more minutes than his normal interlocutors could be useful in obtaining some additional information to share with President von der Leyen upon his return.
The moment of relative pause in the duty war and a certain irritation from the American president for the latest actions of Putin in Ukraine they represent a favorable moment to interpret (with all the benefit of inventory) what the future holds for us.
Meloni herself could raise the Ukrainian issue to understand Washington's next moves.
Gas, weapons and industry: what's at stake for Italy
Italian interest and European interest (beyond the tones used by members of the majority) in this case go hand in hand. Nobody really thinks that Italy can obtain preferential treatment on a bilateral level on parmesan e wines in exchange for increased purchases of weapons and liquefied gas. Weapons e gas have been the European counter-offer to the increase in duties. But, apparently, the creation of a European consortium for the import of the product at acceptable costs is still at sea. liquid gas, though Eni has already said it is available to evaluate the purchase hypothesis. As regards weapons, the 150 billion in subsidized credits made available by the EU are tied to purchases made within the European market and to joint projects between at least three member states. Therefore, at least for now, the agreement between the Italian Leonardo and the German Rheinmetall for the new European tank, just as the agreement between Italy, the United Kingdom and Japan for the sixth generation fighter would not be eligible.
It will therefore be up to Meloni to try to decipher Trump's intentions, also with regards to the possible timing of a progressive US disengagement from NATO.
Trump and NATO: the issue of military spending
Meloni will however be able to reassure Trump that within the next NATO summit in June Italy will bring its defense spending at 2% of GDP (even possibly taking into account the salaries and pensions of military personnel as other European countries do).
A journey that remains in any case under the spotlight of Italian politics. A "delicate" journey, as the Deputy Prime Minister defined it Matteo Salvini, “full of pitfalls” echoed the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council Giovanbattista FazzolariThe visit was prepared down to the smallest detail, both diplomatically and logistically, although there remains a margin of unpredictability linked to the possible surprise moves of the American president.
After Trump, the dossier moves to Rome: JD Vance expected
Once in Rome, Meloni will have a “follow up” with the American vice president JD Vance, expected in Italy Friday 18thThe White House stressed that the vice president will discuss economic and geopolitical priorities with Italian leaders and then India, where he will travel immediately after the Italian stop and the Vatican.
