Italy PM Meloni draws Trump’s praise

Washington: Giorgia Meloni’s charm offensive to the White House went off without a hitch, with US President Donald Trump using the moment to assert that he “fully expects” to clinch a trade deal with the European Union.

The Italian Prime Minister claimed that Mr Trump accepted an invitation to Rome in the near future and that he would consider meeting other leaders while there – raising the possibility that he would sit down with the president of the European Commission, which handles trade matters for the EU.

The moment is significant because it is the first indication from Mr Trump that he may be willing to de-escalate the tit-for-tat tariff escalation that has seen the US impose new levies on around €380 billion (S$566 billion) of EU goods. And gone were his hyperbolic condemnations of the bloc, which he has said was formed to “screw” the US.

For most of April 17’s news conference, Ms Meloni blended into the background, speaking up to heap praise on the American President or repeating his political talking points, such as supporting his fight against woke and diversity, equity and inclusion “ideology”.

The meeting could not have been more different than the experience of Mr Volodymyr Zelensky, who suffered a humiliating dressing down by the US President in the Oval Office, after the Ukrainian President explained the history of Russia occupying his country and breaking ceasefire agreements.

“Everyone loves and respects her, and I can’t say that about many people,” Mr Trump told reporters in the White House. “I would say that she has taken Europe by storm.”

Asked whether he thought Italy could be the “best” ally of the US in Europe, he said: “Only if the prime minister remains the prime minister can it be our best ally. She’s doing a great job. She’s a fantastic person and doing a great job and our relationship is great.”

While Mr Trump was generous with the praise, he still offered very little of substance – and it remains to be seen if the congenial tone will translate into a mending of relations.

While he said he expected to get a trade deal with the EU, those negotiations have in fact broken down, Bloomberg reported earlier. The EU’s chief trade negotiator left a meeting on April 14 with commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and trade representative Jamieson Greer with little clarity on the US stance and struggling to determine the American side’s aims.

Mr Trump also said that he was in no rush to strike a deal with the Europeans. And the stakes could not be higher for Italy or the EU.

The US put 20 per cent tariffs – which were lowered to 10 per cent for 90 days – on nearly all EU imports, as well as 25 per cent duties on cars and metals. The Trump administration has also moved forward with plans to impose tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports. Italy exports about €65 billion of goods to the US a year, which is about 10 per cent of its total exports.

The Italian leader spent months organising her bilateral with Mr Trump, sustaining a complex and taxing balancing act that at times promised to undo her very own government coalition at home.

She and her team have repeatedly reacted with private dismay to Mr Trump’s tirades spanning Ukraine, trade and much else besides, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, and they harboured anxiety about the meeting failing. Still, she opted for the path of least resistance and chose to avoid any direct criticism of the President.

In a joint statement on April 18, Mr Trump and Ms Meloni pledged to deepen defense ties and support Italy as a data hub for the Mediterranean and North Africa. They also said they would work together to develop the India-Middle East-Europe infrastructure corridor, without providing details.

Ms Meloni pledged to buy more US liquefied natural gas and said Italian companies would invest around €10 billion in the US in the coming years.

“You’ll forgive me if I promote my country a bit, but you’re a businessman and you understand me,” she said, as Mr Trump nodded in agreement. “But we can do even better together.”

At least for now, the complicated balancing act Ms Meloni has engaged in seems to have paid off, consolidating her status as a capable diplomat. But it is too early to say whether it has borne tangible fruit.

“The goal for me is to make the West great again,” Ms Meloni told Mr Trump. “And I think we can do it together.” “We can,” responded Mr Trump.