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Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will become the latest in a line of European leaders to flock to Washington with the goal of currying favor and improving relations with President Trump.<\/p>\n
But Ms. Meloni\u2019s trip this week has stirred more hopes \u2014 and fears \u2014 than the visits of some earlier European leaders to the White House because of the unique position she holds on the continent.<\/p>\n
Her right-wing background has long positioned her as a potential ally of Mr. Trump\u2019s, and she was invited to attend Mr. Trump\u2019s inauguration, unlike other European leaders. Those credentials have helped stoke speculation that Ms. Meloni could visit the White House with an Italy-first approach, looking to strike deals for her country and threatening to undermine European unity.<\/p>\n
But many diplomats and officials push back on such concerns, in part because Ms. Meloni has made a name for herself in recent months as a collaborative player on the European stage. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
To Ms. Meloni\u2019s fans, this is a moment ripe with opportunity. To others, it is an important test of whether she can use her affinity with Mr. Trump to help Italy, and Europe.<\/p>\n
\u201cItaly will find out how much it can claim a special relationship with the United States,\u201d said Giovanni Orsina, the head of the political science department at Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome.<\/p>\n
The visit unquestionably comes a time of high stakes: The 27-nation European Union relies on the United States as its most important trading partner, and Mr. Trump\u2019s trade war threatens to upend that. <\/p>\n
Mr. Trump\u2019s threats of imposing punishing tariffs, beyond those already in place, could dent demand for everything from Chianti to chemicals \u2014 and the European economy hangs in the balance, as leaders try to persuade Mr. Trump to relent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cShe will play a facilitator,\u201d between the European Commission and the United States, Italy\u2019s minister for enterprises, Adolfo Urso, said in an interview. He added that Ms. Meloni could count not only on a long-established bilateral relationship between Italy and the United States, but also on \u201ca personal relationship that was consolidated between Meloni and Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Top-level European Union officials have struggled to meet with their American counterparts. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, has not been able to speak with President Trump since he retook office, despite trying.<\/p>\n
National leaders have had better luck, at least in winning an audience. France\u2019s President Emmanuel Macron, Britain\u2019s leader Keir Starmer and Irish Prime Minister Miche\u00e1l Martin have all met with Mr. Trump in the Oval Office.<\/p>\n
Many see Ms. Meloni\u2019s trip as a continuation of those efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny outreach to the U.S. is welcome,\u201d Arianna Podesta, the European Commission\u2019s deputy chief spokeswoman, told reporters on Monday about Ms. Meloni\u2019s trip, adding later that the trip was also \u201cclosely coordinated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms. Podesta said on Wednesday that Ms. Von der Leyen and Ms. Meloni spoke by phone on Tuesday evening, and called having contact with the Americans \u201cextremely positive.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Still, Ms. Meloni\u2019s visit has caused unease in some quarters. French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci told a French broadcaster that there was a risk that the visit could break<\/a> the continent\u2019s unity. In Brussels and in Italy, opponents have said that Ms. Meloni\u2019s visit to Washington will reveal how loyal she is to Europe, at a time when Mr. Trump and his allies continue to portray Europe\u2019s leadership as feckless.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the moment of truth for our prime minister,\u201d Italy\u2019s former development minister and opposition politician Carlo Calenda said in a statement. \u201cWe will see whether she is a leader that keeps the European front united, or if she will give in to the flattery of the US president.\u201d<\/p>\n