Lawyer of “Made in Italy”, but pressed by Brussels to speak on behalf of its European partners, the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni must meet with Donald Trump this Thursday, April 17 in Washington for a delicate mission about customs tasks.
The only EU leader invited the investiture of the US President on January 20, the head of the ultra conservative coalition in power in Rome has the ear of the White House tenant. They share a great ideological basis, restrictions on access to abortion to immigration obstacles, from the Christian creed to the “wokists.”
Concern for European partners
However, it separates them from the Ukrainian archive: Giorgia Meloni, custodian of an anti -communist tradition anchored in the fascism that has forged her atlantism, has included among kyiv’s most fervent supporters from the Russian invasion.
While punishing the “barbarie” in Progreso in Ukraine on Sunday after the Russian strike in the city of Soumy, which left 35 dead, Donald Trump, while depliating “a horrible thing”, resumed the argument of the Kremlin that invoked an “error.”
Above all, with the tasks of punitive customs announced by the conservative president, he has taken over a certain idea of economic patriotism that both defend in a context of globalized exchanges.
Depending on the exports of his industry, which weighs almost a quarter of his GDP, Giorgia Meloni criticized these customs tasks while playing dialogue and urged Brussels not to take reprisal measures.
His rhythm of two and his proximity to Donald Trump worries his European partners, such as the French industry minister Marc Ferracci, who said they feared, announcing the visit of Giorgia Meloni in Washington, who will not go alone.
“If we begin to have bilateral discussions, it is obvious that it will break the current dynamics,” he warned last week.
“We have to avoid a price war”
“I don’t feel pressure,” Giorgia Meloni joked on Tuesday night outside a ceremony in front of business leaders. “I am aware of what I represent and I am aware of what I defend.”
Italy achieves more than 10% of its exports to the United States, the third commercial partner of the Peninsula. 10% of Germany’s exports are also carried out in the United States and 7% of French exports. Then the slogan, in Rome, is for appeasement.
“We must absolutely avoid a tariff war,” said Industry Minister Adolfo Urso, adding that Giorgia Meloni would seek Washington to “convince everyone to discuss.”
European message
The European Commission also wanted to reassure. Its president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Italian leader “are in regular contact,” said a spokesman in Brussels on Monday. “They have been in contact with this mission in recent days, and will be in contact before the mission.”
Remembering that the commission is only competent in terms of commercial agreements, he insisted that “any approach to the United States is welcome” and “closely coordinated.”
According to a European diplomat interviewed by the AFP, “there is no problem” as soon as any leader of the block that goes abroad “carries the message of Europeans” to “strengthen European unity.”
In addition to Forza Italia, a liberal right -wing formation created by Silvio Berlusconi, the other two parties of the government’s coalition in Rome, Fratelli d’Italia de Giorgia Meloni and the Matteo Salvini League are of Euroesthetic culture.
However, Giorgia Meloni put water in his wine since his arrival at business at the end of 2022, Italy is the main beneficiary of the EU post-pandemic recovery plan, with almost 200 billion euros in subsidies and loans in exchange for reforms by 2026.
To his right, his viceprimer minister, Matteo Salvini, does not stop defending Donald Trump against “Ursula von der German.” “There is no controversy during my trip,” warned the Italian leader.
Giorgia Meloni will only take a clay visit to Washington and return on Friday to welcome the American vice president JD Vance in Rome.
Source: BFM TV
