Only a few in the EU have a good connection to Trump as Italy's Prime Minister Meloni. But as a clear supporter of Ukraine, she also presents this with conflicts. How do you succeed in the balancing act?
The year had started very well for Giorgia Meloni. While in large parts of Europe, the Italian Minister President flew to Mar-A-Lago in Florida in early January to initiate the release of the Italian journalist Cecilia Sala from an Iranian prison in the early January. In addition, she is said to have spoken to Elon Musk about a possible billion -off deal with his SpaceX company.
Shortly after her Floridaries, we went to Washington to participate as the only invited head of government in the EU at the celebrations for the inauguration of Trump. The Prime Minister already saw herself as a bridge builder between Europe and the USA. But the attempt to build bridges has now become a wire rope act.
Much to see: Trump's inauguration followed Meloni alongside Argentina's President Milei and China's Vice President Han.
Pro Ukraine out of conviction
On February 22, Meloni spoke via video count at the CPAC conference in Washington, a meeting of American right-wing populists. The right-wing politician shouted against the “Virus of Cancel Culture and Woke ideology” and against “the radical left”. Statements that received a lot of applause from the Trump fans.
But on a topic, she took a position that is rather unusual in the Trump camp: it emphasized the importance of the transatlantic alliance and praised Ukraine, which was “a proud people” and fighting “illegal aggression” for his freedom.
Just five days later, Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj in the White House of Trump and his Vice JD Vance was humiliated in front of all over the world. A scene that may also have left an impression at Meloni, who is considered a convinced supporter of Ukraine and who, in turn, always named – as at the CPAC conference – clearly named who is the aggressor in this conflict.
The fact that Trump attempts, in the sense of Putin to turn it over, violate Meloni's most important political principle: the sovereignty of the nation state. This is the top priority for Meloni, says Giovanni Orsina, political scientist at the Roman Luiss University. Since the Russian attack on Ukraine violated Ukrainian sovereignty, their support is only consistent.
Meloni has no doubt about her support for Ukraine – this distinguishes her from Trump.
Calm hike between Trump and the EU
And yet Meloni was the only head of the government of the great European countries that Selenskyj did not immediately support publicly supported after the scandal in the White House. Instead, she called for unity that the West should not be split, and she was on the phone with Trump.
When the heads of government discussed an 800 billion package for the military and Ukraine at the EU special summit last week, Meloni agrees. At the same time, she emphasized several times that the USA must be included and that the transatlantic partnership must be maintained.
“Meloni tries to ensure that European mobilization is not considered something that is hostile to the United States, but as something cooperative,” says Orsina.
The army increases despite high debt?
At home she also dares to take the balancing act: Italy is currently significantly below the two percent goal of NATO and is under pressure. As part of a national security plan, the government plans to increase the professional army by up to 40,000 soldiers.
How the whole thing is to be financed is so far unclear, and government debt is already more than 134 percent. According to media reports, there could be a way to use funds from the EU's 800 billion.
However, the plans among the population encounter great skepticism. The opposition, led by the Social Democratic Partito Democratico, also sees the Italian and European armaments projects extremely critically. Even in Meloni's own government coalition, there is criticism of especially Vice Prime Minister and Putin-admirer Matteo Salvini.
It is similarly disagreed with the topic of whether Italy should send peace troops to Ukraine. Prime Minister Meloni would be ready if these troops have a UN mandate, Salvini and the opposition are against it.
Meloni, of all people, currently seems to be in Italy, whose political roots are in post -fascism and who had often and violent and violent against Europe and the Brussels institutions before her election. According to political scientist Orsina, she may not be the most convinced European, but she currently guarantees that Italy is playing Europe in the team.
