US vice-president JD Vance met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome for a second day of talks on prices, the White House suggesting that a wider summit in the United States-Europe is being studied during the visit of President Donald Trump.
“I miss you,” said Meloni jokingly in Vance when entering the courtyard of the Palais de Chigi, the Prime Minister's office.
They had seen themselves the day before at the Oval Office, where Trump provided praise to the Italian leader for his repression against migration but did not give in to pricing plans which increased tensions with the European Union and the impatient fears of the recession.
The office of the White House and Meloni published a joint statement which said that Trump would visit Italy “in the very close future”.
“He is also considered to hold, on this occasion, a meeting between the United States and Europe,” the statement said.
Meloni as a bridge between us-eu-eu
Meloni positioned itself as a bridge between the Trump administration and Europe and was the only EU chief to attend its inauguration.
As the chief of the far -right party of the brothers of Italy, he is ideologically aligned with Trump on questions, in particular the reduction of migration and the promotion of traditional values.
But Italy and the United States have diverged on Meloni's strong support in Ukraine, while Trump's pricing threat has put pressure on Meloni to defend the EU business interests on behalf of the block.
Meloni said that she hoped that the second day of talks would be used to strengthen a longtime friendship.
“We believe Italy can be an extremely important partner in Europe and in the Mediterranean for the United States of America,” she said.
“There is a privileged relationship between us of which I am very proud.”
Panic of the bond market has led Trump to partially return to his prices in breaks its 20% taxes on the EU for 90 days and by invoicing a reference base instead.
But with Meloni seated by his side, Trump said Thursday that he was in a hurry to conclude trade agreements.
Vance reaffirmed American-Italian friendship and told Meloni that he would have her informed of certain “interesting” developments in the peace negotiations in Russia-Ukraine.
“Bostwork negotiations” would continue, he said.
ADVERTISEMENTLike Trump, Vance seemed dazzled by the Italian language of Meloni even if he did not understand what she said.
“Of course, she could have called me a fool and I would not know, but it would be in the most beautiful imaginable language, so I would not even be offended,” he said.
