The head of the Italian government Giorgia Meloni made an important visit to the USA last week, becoming the first European politician to visit the White House since US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on many countries on the day he called "American Liberation Day." This visit became a decisive experience for future relations between the USA and the European Union in the rapidly changing global arena.
Meloni successfully worked with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, maintaining close ties with Paris, London, and Berlin. Italy's trade surplus with the USA amounts to about 45 billion dollars, where Americans buy pasta, parmesan, and Gucci bags from Italy.
Although Meloni has limited opportunities to gain exemption from the 20% tariffs that Trump threatened to impose on the EU, any new trade agreement will require negotiations between Washington and the EU negotiators in Brussels. So far, it is unclear what plans Trump had regarding the new agreement, and if Meloni left Washington with any new ideas.
Meloni possesses ideological alignment with Trump, but represents a convenient bridge for his adjustments of Europe-America during tense relations across the Atlantic. Trump respects and admires Meloni, asserting that she could support him "to change the silent world."
