Meloni and Trump, Crosetto and Hegseth, and Tajani and Rubio: the ties between Italia and the US following the recent rift

Following the misunderstandings and rifts that have emerged recently, culminating in Defence Minister Guido Crosetto’s decision to deny US bombers involved in operations against Iran the use of the Sicilian base at Sigonella, and even earlier in Donald Trump’s remarks about Giorgia Meloni (“I thought she had courage, but I was wrong”), Italia and the US are now attempting to mend relations that are traditionally close. And they are doing so on the basis of a series of bilateral meetings expected in the coming hours and days: Meloni-Trump, Crosetto-Hegseth and Tajani-Rubio.

These meetings are taking place just a few hours after the announcement of the signing of the peace agreement between the US and Iran on Friday 19 June in Switzerland, with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the immediate end to hostilities. Finally, the last piece of the geopolitical puzzle, at least for now: the European Council on 18 and 19 June to discuss Ukraine, the Middle East, competitiveness, global economic challenges, but also the next multiannual financial framework defence and security, migration and illicit drugs.

In the late afternoon of Monday 15 June, at around 5.45 pm, Giorgia Meloni will arrive in Evian-les-Bains to attend the G7 summit hosted by France. For the Prime Minister, this is the first opportunity to meet Trump again following the tensions and the US President’s attacks. The leaders’ dinner scheduled for this evening on the French shore of Lake Geneva – deserted and heavily guarded – will be the most delicate event of the day. This is because, in the standard format, before opening the sessions of the following days with numerous guests, starting with Volodymyr Zelensky, the leaders of the seven most industrialised economies will immediately discuss the thorniest issues, from the stance to adopt on Ukraine to their role in ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz. As things stand, there is no news of any contact between the Prime Minister and The Donald. The two have not spoken directly, at least according to official reports, for several weeks. During the three days of the summit, there could be an opportunity for a face-to-face meeting, even if no actual bilateral meeting is currently scheduled.

And whilst the intergovernmental forum comprising Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America is taking place in Evian-les-Bains, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has flown to Washington to mend relations with the US administration. He will hold face-to-face talks with the US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth. Italia’s commitment to military spending and the issue of military bases: these are essentially the two major topics on the table. No substantial changes are expected regarding the bases, but rather a mending of ties after Trump, just over a month ago, threatened that he was ‘considering’ the idea of moving troops from Italian bases, as well as from those in Germany. Shortly afterwards, Crosetto himself commented: ‘I don’t think it is in anyone’s interest at this moment to weaken the most powerful defence organisation in the world’. The meeting could yield clarification on whether or not Italia will join the PURL (Priority Requirements List for Ukraine), the mechanism providing for the purchase of US defence systems to be delivered to Kyiv. Also on the table is Meloni’s recent announcement, to be taken to the next NATO summit in Ankara in July, regarding the future increase in defence spending to 2.8 per cent of GDP. However, this is not yet the 5 per cent on which the United States insists. The meeting between Crosetto and the Pentagon chief is also expected to cover Italy’s participation with minesweepers in a future security mission in the Strait of Hormuz.

But dialogue between Italia and the US is also taking place through diplomatic channels. On 22 June, Miami will host the Italia-US Business, Investment, Science and Innovation Forum. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to attend. On 8 May, the two met in Rome, at the Farnesina, during Rubio’s official visit to Italia. The meeting, a statement from the ministry emphasised, ‘reaffirmed the strength of transatlantic relations and the shared commitment to working together for peace, growth and international stability’. This is precisely the aim of the flurry of bilateral meetings currently taking shape.