Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is en route to the United States for a crucial meeting with President Donald Trump, where she will attempt to juggle the interests of the European Union while preserving her close ties with the American leader.
As the first EU head of government to visit Washington since Trump introduced and temporarily suspended 20% tariffs on European goods, Meloni aims to pitch a “zero-for-zero” tariff arrangement on behalf of the entire bloc.
Italy finds itself particularly exposed amid shifting US trade policies. Roughly 10% of its exports, valued at about €67 billion ($76 billion), are destined for the American market, making the US Italy’s third-largest trading partner outside the EU. The tariff announcements earlier this month forced Italy to slash its economic growth forecasts.
“This is a challenging moment,” Meloni acknowledged before her departure. “We will do our utmost I know exactly what and whom I represent.”
Her position is strengthened by a notably warm relationship with Trump. The two leaders have openly praised each other in the past, with Trump describing Meloni as a “fantastic woman” who has “captivated Europe.” Leading a right-wing coalition since 2022, Meloni shares several ideological views with Trump, contrasting sharply with many of her European counterparts.
In a recent address to a US conservative gathering, she echoed some of Trump’s favorite themes, criticizing mass migration, global elites, and progressive cultural movements. She was also the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration in January and has avoided direct criticism of his administration.
Her toughest comment so far came earlier this month when she called Trump’s EU tariff move “absolutely wrong,” warning it would harm both sides of the Atlantic.
Nonetheless, analysts believe Meloni’s instinct is to align rather than clash with Washington. Riccardo Alcaro from the Italian Institute for International Affairs noted that Meloni views the US as central to the Western world’s strength and believes Europe should accommodate American leadership rather than resist it.
“If Trump holds firm on tariffs, she’ll respond in kind but only after making the case for compromise,” Alcaro said.
Meloni’s political alignment places her closer to Trump’s allies than to many EU leaders. While aware of Italy’s obligations to the EU, she remains ideologically close to America’s MAGA Republicans.
Her visit has stirred unease among European officials, some of whom worry that Meloni could break ranks to secure favorable terms for Italy alone. France’s Industry Minister Marc Ferracci recently criticized the prospect of one-on-one negotiations with Trump, warning that such tactics could divide Europe a statement that later had to be toned down by the French government after sparking tensions with Rome.
Adding to the flurry of diplomatic activity, US Vice-President JD Vance will arrive in Rome this Friday to mark Easter and is expected to hold meetings with Meloni and senior figures at the Vatican.
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