As long as Meloni is cooperative internationally and does not endanger the unity in the EU, European governments in dealing with Italy also seem to be opportunistic. After all, there are currently numerous big crises and the western states on the European continent currently do not want to afford internal fights. The disputes with Trump and the threat of Putin are too great. At the same time, Europe does not need a Viktor Orbán in understanding the most important political leader.
It is likely that Meloni’s earnings are. When visiting Washington, it will ultimately be about keeping Italy from Trump’s line of fire. As Selenskyj’s visit to the White House showed, a false sentence to let Trump romp, with devastating political consequences. That is why, despite all the political connections to the Trump camp, it is also a dance on the volcano for Meloni.
Italy is also affected by the US tariffs because the EU operates a common trade policy. Meloni will try to edit the US President so that in the end there may even be free trade between the USA and Europe. The focus for Italy is one thing above all: it should be a success for the Italian head of government if Trump does not put pressure on Italy to invest even more in his own defense.
Trump also looks away on the question of Italy. How long is unclear. After all, Italy is one of the countries with the slightest defense spending in the NATO alliance. In the Italian budget in 2025, just 1.57 percent of the gross domestic product was intended for defense. Now the Italian finance minister Giancarlo Giortti announced on Thursday in front of the parliament in Rome that NATO’s two percent goal was still wanting to reach.
The time of announcement was no coincidence. Italy wants to appease Trump, but is this measure enough? After all, the US government calls for a significant increase in the NATO agreement. Trump regularly accuses the Europeans and that they would live at the Americans’ expense. However, the US President scolds mainly about Germany, and Italy leaves out on the outside.
