Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for a serious and substantive agreement between the United States and the European Union, saying the transatlantic relationship must be strengthened not only militarily but also politically and economically to meet modern-day challenges.
“What is needed right now is a real agreement between Europe and the U.S.,” Meloni told Corriere Della Sera in a wide-ranging interview with the Italian publication. “I think we need to bring the U.S. and the EU closer together, also because in the meantime other powers are stepping forward to prevail in the world balance, and I don’t think it is in Europe’s or the USA’s interest for this to happen.”
Meloni, who recently met with Donald Trump in Washington and has spoken with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, framed Italy’s role as a bridge between the two sides of the Atlantic. “It is in Italy’s vocation to work to bring the two sides of the Atlantic as close as possible to strengthen the West, understood as a civilization and not as a simple geographical space or set of interests,” she said. “There are different points of view, but I believe that by addressing them concretely, we can take important steps forward.”
She dismissed the idea that recent diplomatic events — such as the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, which gathered numerous world leaders — should have been used for political meetings. “I have never considered the Pope’s funeral an opportunity to bring together this or that leader,” she said. “It was a moment of profound significance for the Christian and Catholic community and the whole world. I didn’t want it to become the backdrop for political negotiations.”
While discussions about a potential summit between U.S. and EU leaders are ongoing, Meloni insisted such a meeting must have clear goals and be based on technical groundwork. “We are working on it, but it does not depend only on us. For meetings to lead to results, they must be prepared carefully and must not be formal, but substantial,” she said. “I am interested in bringing home a real agreement that serves Italy, Europe, and the USA. Without haste, but well done.”
Asked whether Italy might host such a summit, Meloni said the location is secondary to the outcome. “If Rome can be the right venue because our country is seen as a friend and not a ‘counterpart,’ I think it will be a great recognition. But even if it were elsewhere… I think I can say that I will have had some merit anyway.”
On her relationship with Trump, Meloni said the two leaders enjoy a productive rapport. “We are two leaders who respect and understand each other, even when we do not completely agree,” she said. She pushed back against criticism from Italy’s center-left opposition, who have questioned her closeness to the U.S. president. “When the leader of the Democratic Party says that ‘Trump cannot be our ally,’ what exactly does she mean? That we break the 70-year alliance and leave NATO? I don’t think our alliances change based on election results.”
The Italian premier argued that her government’s alignment with the Trump administration is not ideological but pragmatic. “We are not pro-American; we are part of the West. Our entrepreneurs invest in the U.S. because it makes sense. And we must also encourage American investment here. For example, in the joint declaration we signed with President Trump, we highlighted the special economic zone in southern Italy, which offers real opportunities.”
Turning to the war in Ukraine, Meloni reaffirmed Italy’s support for Kyiv and expressed cautious optimism about recent diplomatic developments. “We support Trump’s efforts and are pleased that Zelensky has said he is open to an unconditional ceasefire, showing that Ukraine also wants peace,” she said. “But the three-day truce announced by Putin is decidedly insufficient. Peace must be just and lasting. And that means solid security guarantees.”
Reflecting on her recent time in the global spotlight, Meloni acknowledged the praise Italy has received for its diplomatic efforts but remained modest. “If I have to give myself a grade, it’s six. I am never satisfied, especially with myself. The higher you go, the easier it is to go down. I’ve always had that in mind.”
