Meloni Caught Between Trump and Europe as Trans-Atlantic Rift Widens

[Social Media]

 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing a difficult balancing act as tensions grow between Europe and U.S. President Donald Trump. While she has worked hard to maintain strong ties with Trump and his allies, including billionaire Elon Musk, her efforts to bridge the trans-Atlantic divide are proving increasingly difficult.

 

 

Meloni was hesitant to join a recent video call with European leaders discussing the potential deployment of peacekeeping troops to Ukraine—an idea she strongly opposes. When she eventually dialed in, she made her position clear, criticizing leaders from France and the U.K. for strategizing without involving the United States. "It’s simply counterproductive to antagonize the United States," Meloni reportedly told them. "We cannot replace American support." She instead proposed a trans-Atlantic summit on Ukraine, but many European leaders are determined to move forward without waiting for Washington’s approval.

 

 

Meloni has positioned herself as a key figure in maintaining ties between Europe and Trump, as uncertainty over America’s commitment to European security grows. While Trump has alarmed European leaders with threats of trade tariffs and by pressuring Ukraine to make concessions to Russia, many countries are beginning to discuss reducing their reliance on the U.S. for defense—an idea that Meloni strongly opposes.

 

 

Despite her close relationship with Trump and Musk, Meloni has yet to see tangible benefits from her alignment with them. Trump has made sweeping threats against European trade, declaring, "The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States. That’s the purpose of it." Meloni has urged the European Union not to retaliate against potential tariffs, warning Italian lawmakers that a trade war could harm ordinary citizens. "I am not sure it is necessarily wise to respond to tariffs with tariffs," she said. "Italy’s efforts should focus on finding common sense solutions between the United States and Europe."

 

 

Meloni, who leads one of Italy’s most stable governments in recent history, is in a better position than many of her European counterparts to engage with Trump. Her strong stance against immigration and "gender ideology" has made her a political ally of the former U.S. president, who has called her a "fantastic woman." She was also the only European head of government to attend his inauguration and has developed a personal friendship with Musk.

 

This connection has yielded some results. During a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in January, Meloni secured Trump’s support for a prisoner-exchange deal that led to the release of an Italian journalist held in Iran. However, her influence over Trump’s broader foreign policy remains limited.

 

In a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month, Meloni urged continued U.S. support for Ukraine, calling it a nation where "a proud people fight for their freedom against a brutal aggression." Her appeal was met with silence. Weeks later, Trump publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, briefly cut off military aid, and signaled a possible shift in U.S. alignment toward Russia, triggering panic among European leaders.

 

As Washington’s support for Ukraine becomes less certain, European leaders are scrambling to bolster their own military capabilities. Meloni, a staunch defender of the Western alliance, now faces the real possibility that a second Trump administration could turn its back on Europe. Her insistence that European leaders should remain aligned with the U.S. is beginning to isolate her. "Washington has no desire to build a bridge with the European Union—and no one in Europe asked Meloni to play that role," said Teresa Coratella, an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

 

Meloni recently proposed extending NATO’s mutual defense guarantee to Ukraine, despite the country not being a member. Trump has so far dismissed calls for U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv. At the same time, she has backed a major European plan to increase military spending but has cautioned against moves that might drive the U.S. further away. Nicola Procaccini, a senior member of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party in the European Parliament, warned, "One thing is doing our part by investing in military spending, as we rightly should. But it’s a fallacy to think that we can do without the United States, that there can be a European defense outside NATO."

 

At a recent EU summit, Meloni sought to include a statement praising Trump’s efforts to broker peace in Ukraine. Other European leaders rejected the idea, wary of Trump’s unpredictable negotiations with Putin and concerned that he might prioritize repairing U.S.-Russia relations at Ukraine’s expense.

 

Another test of Italy’s approach will be whether Meloni signs a long-term deal with Musk’s SpaceX to provide Starlink satellite communications for Italian embassies and military missions. While the Italian government views Starlink as a cutting-edge solution, there is growing debate within Meloni’s administration about the risks of relying on Musk, who has made controversial remarks about Ukraine’s military dependence on Starlink. His statement that Ukraine’s defenses would "collapse" without Starlink was widely interpreted as a veiled threat, sparking concerns in Rome. In response, Italy has begun exploring alternatives, including the French-owned satellite company Eutelsat.

 

As the divide between the U.S. and Europe continues to grow, Meloni’s efforts to maintain strong trans-Atlantic ties are facing serious obstacles. With Trump’s influence reshaping global alliances, Italy’s leader finds herself in a difficult position—one where both Europe and the U.S. may be moving in directions beyond her control.

 

Based on a report by WSJ  2025-03-22

 

 

[FlorC]

They should put her in front when taking a picture.

She is by far the easiest for the eyes.

[RayWright]

Wow. What does the Wall Street Journal known that the rest of the press don't.

[johng]

6 minutes ago, Scott Tracy said:

Former President...?

 

Yep still haven't updated the AI
🙄

[HappyExpat57]

8 hours ago, Social Media said:

"former U.S. President Donald"

He HATES being called that.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[johng]

Just now, HappyExpat57 said:

He HATES being called that.

 

Perhaps,  but why continue with the incorrect information  in the World News forum  isn't it supposed to be factually correct and use the correct names for "leaders" on both sides  of the political spectrum ?

[HappyExpat57]

1 hour ago, johng said:

 

Perhaps,  but why continue with the incorrect information  in the World News forum  isn't it supposed to be factually correct and use the correct names for "leaders" on both sides  of the political spectrum ?

 

The operative words here are "supposed to be."

[RayC]

Good article. Meloni has been impressive since coming to power. Despite fears that she would be an Italian Orban, unlike him she has shown a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with her EU counterparts.

 

However, as the article suggests, maintaining a balancing act between Europe and the US will probably be her biggest test to date.

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, RayC said:

Good article. Meloni has been impressive since coming to power. Despite fears that she would be an Italian Orban, unlike him she has shown a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with her EU counterparts.

 

However, as the article suggests, maintaining a balancing act between Europe and the US will probably be her biggest test to date.

 

Yes the leftist lies have been exposed yet again. 

 

Meloni is a great, right of centre leader. Not a far right extremist as the left were claiming  

 

The gaslighting is failing. 

[RayC]

13 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Yes the leftist lies have been exposed yet again. 

 

Meloni is a great, right of centre leader. Not a far right extremist as the left were claiming  

 

The gaslighting is failing. 

 

Given her past flirtation with Fascism and her statements about same sex relationships, there was good reason to worry about what her premiership might bring, however, those fears have been largely unfounded.

 

Unlike you, I comment on the facts and evidence. Again, unlike you I am aware of my bias. Therefore, I am not blinkered by an irrational hatred of anything or anyone which/who doesn't fit snuggly into a bigoted, dogmatic view of the world.

[FlorC]

But as usual , after being elected , her standpoints get watered down , like on immigration. Compromises.