Italy’s melons are heading to us with an unlikely mission for Europe

Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni goes to the United States to meet with Donald Trump – a visit to see how she will walk on the rope between the EU’s presentation and remaining in good US presidential books.

As the first European leader to go to Washington since the introduction of Trump-then-20% of the EU tariffs in early April, Melon hopes to convince him of the “zero for zero” tariffs.

Italy is particularly vulnerable to any changes in the US trade policy.

About 10% of its exports – worth about 67 billion euros (£ 57 billion; $ 76 billion) – go to the United States, the third largest non -EU trade partner, and tariffs announced by Trump, have halved their growth forecast earlier this month.

“We know it’s a difficult time,” Meloni said on the eve of her trip. “We will do our best – I know what I present about what I protect.”

At this rich moment, she is perhaps one of the most posted current European leaders talking to Trump. The head of the European Commission Ursul von der Leyen admits this, and they regularly perform before the trip.

Trump and Meloni were gloriously enjoying a good relationship and in the past gave praise to each other. He called her a “fantastic woman” who “really took Europe.”

For its part, Meloni, which has led the right -wing coalition government since 2022, is ideologically closer to Trump than some of its European neighbors.

In the video message to the US Conservative Conference, in February, she resonated some common Trump conversations against mass migration, “globalistic elites” and “woken ideology”.

It was also the only European leader who attended the inauguration of the US president in January, and has since been evading the open criticism of his administration.

The most violent criticism she released was at the beginning of this month when she said Trump’s decision to impose 20% of the EU tariffs was “absolutely wrong” and that it would harm the EU “as much as the US.”

“Meloni always said that Europe should make no decisions that make it a collision with the United States, and that Europe should adapt rather than resist it,” Ricardo Alcaro said of the Italian Institute of International Affairs in Rome.

“If the Trump administration is unchanged at the tariffs, she will agree to the confrontation. But her first step always says” no. “Because it eventually believes that the importance of the West is in the world thanks to the US and that the West revolves around the United States.”

The world view of Meloni is also closer to many Trump’s main allies than many of its European neighbors.

“She knows that Italy is strategically, politically and economically subordinate to the EU – but it also has a real closeness to Maga Republicans,” Alcaro added.

US Vice President JD Vance is due to go to Rome on Friday for Easter, and see Meloni as well as leading officials in the Vatican.

The natural proximity of Meloni to the administration in which there are problems with the search for common soil in Europe has caused concern about some Europeans, which, in particular Oval Service, it can be tempted to go alone and argue for more favorable conditions for Italy.

Last week, French Industry Minister Mark Ferrachi opposed “bilateral talks” and warned that Trump’s strategy should “share Europeans”.

His comments were annoyed by Rome, and later a government -secretary of the government had to be tightened.

The European Commission signaled that he had confidence in Meloni, and the press -secretary said that “any US information connection was very welcomed.”

However, the press secretary also stated that the Meloni’s trip was “coordinated” with the institutions and emphasized that the processing of trade policy was a work for the EU.

The EU negotiates on behalf of all member states, and no country can agree on low tariffs for its own benefit.

The Meloni team looks clear in this, and the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Meloni “is not going to negotiate in Italy against Europe, but is going to defeat the European position.”

Ultimately, the mission of the Italian leader may emphasize Trump that the EU is seeking to reach a zero tariff agreement and make a commitment to buying an American-personal one when it comes to protecting and eliminating natural gas (SPG).

And, in more muted tones, she can also tell him that Europe is in no hurry to make any deals with China.

“I do not know how much it will be, but I think there will be some anti-Chinese discourse as an incentive for the US administration,” Ricardo Alcar said.

At home, party allies sang praise of melons in front of their plane in Washington, even left the land.

“This meeting shows the courage and growth of Georgia Meloni,” said the Italian MP (FDI) Augustus, “although Senator JavaBatist Faczolars, a little less encouraging, warned that the trip would” complete potential pitfalls “.

And the opposition parties belonging to the center took advantage of overcoming the closeness of Meloni to Trump administration.

“I have the feeling that upon returning the melon will fly to the Trump flag, not Italy or Europe,” Peppe said from the Democratic Party (PD).

“I hope I’m wrong.”

At the Rome award ceremony on Tuesday, Meloni addressed the room stuffed with entrepreneurs and business executives – thus who will lose maximum from Trump.

Going forward to her trip to Washington, she smiled nervously.

“As you can imagine,” she joked, “I don’t feel pressure at all.”