Trump-Meloni: the axis that displaces Europe

ROME - While the European Union struggles to speak with one voice, something unexpected is happening: Italy finds itself at the centre of the geopolitical gamewith Giorgia Meloni that, willy-nilly, is assuming an increasingly central role in the balance between the US, NATO and Europe. A testimoniarlo è stato l’incontro di altissimo profilo tenutosi alla Casa Bianca, dove Donald Trump welcomed the Italian premier as a privileged allypraising their work and announcing a future official visit to Rome.

"Italy is one of our closest allies, not only in Europe," declared the US President "Giorgia Meloni is a great person, she is doing a great job."

Words heavy as bouldersespecially when compared to the frosty climate surrounding many other European leaders, often perceived as weak and indecisive interlocutors by Washington. In an increasingly fragmented Europe - amidst migration crises, economic tensions and the war in Ukraine entering its fourth year - Giorgia Meloni emerges as a figurehead.

Italy takes the lead?

The gesture of enormous political value was the official announcement that Italy will reach 2% of GDP in military spending as early as 2025as NATO has been demanding for years. A threshold never reached so far, not even at times of maximum international pressure. The Minister of the Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti made the announcement in Parliament within hours of the premier's trip to Washington, speaking of a "necessary choice' dictated by current international tensions.

A turnaround that took many by surprise, especially considering the internal political contextfrom the strong criticism of the 5 Star Movementwhich has organised demonstrations against the increase in military spending, to the concerns expressed in the past by Matteo SalviniHowever, today he seems to have realigned himself with the government line, stating: “Defend Italy and Italians yes, even more than 2%”.

Brussels limps, Rome accelerates

While Brussels promotes collective instruments to strengthen defence - with strong divergences of vision among Member States, between those who support greater strategic integration and those who remain cautious in the face of excessive centralisation - the EUR 150 billion SAFE fund and the safeguard clause to exclude military expenditure from the deficit calculation are the pillars of this common strategy. However, Italy, at least for the time being, chooses an autonomous approach.

The Minister of the Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti clarified that the objective of the 2% of GDP in defence spending will be achieved without activating the clausedespite the fact that it has long been requested by Rome in the past. As for joining the SAFE fund, any evaluation is postponed until after the June NATO summitwhen a new spending target, perhaps at 3.5% of GDP, might emerge.

"We will respect budgetary discipline and international commitments with cold blood and rationality, avoiding hasty choices".said Giorgetti.

Per Trump è Giorgia Meloni l’interlocutore Europeo

The meeting between Trump and Meloni ranged far beyond military spending. On the table: trade tariffs, energy, migration and the war in Ukraine. And on all these fronts there has been a profound harmony between the two leaders. Meloni even paraphrased the famous Trumpian slogan saying that she wanted to 'making the West great again'while Trump praised the Italian line on immigration and openly criticised EU policies.

"I am not a fan of how Europe has handled immigration," Trump stated. "But Italy is doing a very good job."

Meloni, for her part, emphasised how European policies are changing also thanks to the Italian examplereferring to the new package of return rules launched by the Commission.

On the Ukrainian front, however, some differences remain. Trump said he was not particularly in favour of Volodymyr Zelensky, stating: "He did not do a good job, I am not a big fan of his." Meloni, on the other hand, reiterated that 'the aggressor is Putin'but also added that the common goal must be a just and lasting peace.

Sovereign Italy or director?

The paradox is obvious: Italy, long considered among the last in its class internationally, now finds itself at actively contribute to shaping the European agendadisplacing the traditional continental powers. France and Germany watch with growing unease, the UK moves autonomouslyready - together with Paris - to send troops to Ukraine as part of a possible mission of peacekeeping, while the Italian decision to raise defence spending to 2% of GDP, according to what is reported from the Iberian newspaper El Mundo, also puts pressure on the Spanish government of Pedro Sánchezremained isolated and still hesitant about increasing military allocations.

In the meantime, Rome is perceived in Washington as the new reference point. There is already talk, not without emphasis, of a 'New Rome'a capital city capable of leading the Mediterranean, strengthening the Atlantic Alliance and rebalancing the European centralitymoving it from the traditional Franco-German axis southwards.

Conclusion

Are we facing a historic turning point or a clever pre-election move orchestrated by Trump to strengthen the sovereignist axis? It is still too early to tell. But one thing is certain: Giorgia Meloni has conquered the international stageand with it the right to sit at the table where the world's grand strategies are decided.

For better or for worse, Italy is no longer just a spectator: it is a protagonist.