Tariffs, defence, China: Meloni seeks support in the Oval Office

Sherpas have been working for weeks to prepare the meeting. But the outcome of the face-to-face between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni will only be known when the US president and the Italian premier meet in the Oval Office in front of the cameras. The central theme remains the dazi of course. And for Meloni, arriving in Washington after Trump's decision to suspend the 'reciprocal' tariffs reduces (though it doesn't zero them out) the risks on the outcome of the bilateral with the unpredictable White House Commander-in-Chief. The objective of duties "zero for zero" between Europe and the United States coveted by the Prime Minister remains a chimera for now. But it points in the direction: the strengthening of relations between the two sides of the Atlantic.

This is the mission that Meloni has given herself and that for the premier is not failing despite the 'deeply flawed' executive orders signed by the American president against European 'parasites'. Trump's decision to set aside duties for 90 days - after a week that shocked the markets and questioned even the Stars and Stripes treasure - has strengthened this conviction at Palazzo Chigi and the will to keep the alliance with the States as a priority, avoiding an embrace with China at all costs.

The clash between Washington and Beijing also directly affects Europe. Brussels - after what is perceived as a real betrayal by the US - has returned to look to the East (not only China) with the aim of building new trade partnerships. A very treacherous road for the government given the gigantic imbalance - already today - of the trade balance between Europe and the country of the Dragon. There are those who argue in these eve hours that Meloni could also offer Rome's willingness to review the three-year strategic partnership agreement signed with China last July. But what will count above all is the attitude that the US president will show in his meeting with the Italian premier towards Europe. Because it is true that Meloni is not going to Washington as an EU representative, but it is just as obvious that in such a complex phase of relations (euphemism) the head of government of a founding country, which represents the continent's third largest economy and Europe's second largest manufacturer, is invested with a representative role.

The conclusion of this mission is therefore also destined to weigh on the relationship with Brussels. To strengthen or to deny that role of bridge-builder that the Prime Minister had assigned to herself. Leaving the Oval Office with Trump's readiness for a confrontation with Brussels would in itself be a victory for Meloni, who remains in almost daily contact with Ursula von der Leyen. The opportunity is already indicated in the NATO summit at the end of June, which comes a couple of weeks before the 90-day tariff suspension expires and which will also sanction the new target of defence spending.

This too will be the topic of the face-to-face with Trump along with Ukraine, whose cause Meloni continues to champion. Italy is among the countries that are still abundantly below that 2% of GDP signed with the Atlantic Pact partners. A commitment that has already been deemed surpassed not only by the American president (according to whom it should rise to 5%) but also by the European partners.