US duties, EU is for the hard-line in words but Meloni is cautious

While news from America overlaps on the tariff war with China — triggered today, bang for the buck — and with Mexico and Canada, postponed for 30 days, the leaders of EU countries are taking, at least in words, a hard line against Donald Trump and his Administration: “If we are attacked, we will retaliate.”

France and Germany are the main interpreters of this. Italy is cautious. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, says: “The relationship with the U.S. is crucial to promote peace, stability and prosperity. The EU is prepared for robust and constructive dialogue-there may be challenges ahead. If hit, we will respond firmly.”

At the informal summit of the 27, at the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels, there is a perception that the EU may be targeted by Trump’s tariffs, who, meanwhile, declares a 30-day truce with Mexico and Canada: the two countries agree to tighten border controls, to curb illegal migration to the U.S. and the trafficking of Fentanyl, a rapidly spreading drug with devastating effects (which, however, enters the U.S. because Americans buy and consume it).

After a conversation between Trump and Mexican President Teresa Sheinbaum Pardo, it is announced that Mexico will deploy 10,000 soldiers to the border. And it is also a phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that triggers the truce at the northern U.S. border. Instead, it goes to confrontation with China: Beijing proposes to go back to the 2020 agreement and puts yuan, investment, fentanyl and perhaps even TikTok on the table in an attempt to get a truce during which to negotiate a stable agreement; it doesn’t work and tariffs and counter-duties are triggered.

EU-US: a summit “with an open heart,” amid gasps and turmoil

Against the backdrop of these constant gasps coming from Washington, the informal Summit of 27, convened to talk about European defense, must operate – writes Politico – “with an open heart,” caught as it is in the grip between Trump’s economic/commercial threats and Vladimir Putin’s Russia’s strategic and military threats.

The European political picture is also in turmoil. From summit to summit, the number of sovereignist-led governments in the 27 increases: after Austria, it is Belgium’s turn, where, seven months after the political vote, there is agreement on a five-party coalition with Flemish conservative premier Bart De Wever.

Toward Trump’s U.S., the line emerging from the summit is “let’s be respected.” But the 27 are divided on ‘buy American,’ especially on arms: to buy, or not, in the U.S., to reduce imbalances and, therefore, tensions? In the geography of European positions in the face of Cyclone Trump, which emerged rather fractious from the consultation at the Palais d’Egmont, Giorgia Meloni is being cautious: she is, at the moment, the leader with the best relations with the presidential tycoon and his sodal – while it lasts – Elon Musk, and she governs a country that represents Europe’s third largest economy. So, she is well placed to act as a bridge in the dialogue with Washington.

On European defense, which was to be the highlight of the meeting, von der Leyen says, “Today, there was a principled discussion: we all had a pragmatic approach, we told each other that we are ready and start now… We are aware that we have tasks to do on competitiveness, on productivity.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk clarifies, “We are not ready yet… Everything in its own time. No one questions the need to move forward on defense, but for the details of financing methods there will be time. For me that it has been considered a priority is very important: there will certainly be no backtracking.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, expected in three weeks at the crucial test of early elections, says, “The EU is strong: we have every opportunity to look after our interests… This is also a message to the United States,” also expressed “through an outstretched hand.” Scholz, however, rules out creating a common European debt to finance defense, as Sweden and the Netherlands, the quintessential ‘frugal countries,’ do as well.

As for Trump’s claims on Greenland, European Council President Antonio Costa is explicit: “The EU continues to abide by the UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity are universal principles. We will speak out to preserve Denmark’s territorial integrity, the inviolability of its borders and its sovereignty.”

The last session of the informal summit was the dinner of the 27 with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: it was the first time since Brexit that a U.K. premier attended a European summit. EU-London relations were discussed, also in light of Trump’s arrival in the White House. But, in recent weeks, expectations for a ‘reset’ of ‘post-Brexit’ relations have been considerably reduced, compared to the hopes raised by the inauguration of the Labour government.

EU-US: the Italian position

We get the Italian position explained to us by Michele Esposito, the ANSA colleague who was following Premier Meloni at the Palais d’Egmont, who has been preaching pragmatism in relations with the United States for weeks: Rome has already evoked the ‘buy American’ strategy to find an understanding. But with the repetition of attacks from Washington, Meloni’s call for caution is likely to be less heard. There is a growing realization in Europe’s leading chancelleries that only a sharp, united response to possible U.S. tariffs can have any effectiveness. And it is a response from which Italy will not be able to exempt itself in any case.

Meloni sat at the table of the 27 with an awareness: if escaping U.S. tariffs for Italy is not impossible-Trump, in theory, could decide to hit the goods of countries he considers ‘enemies,’ while sparing ‘friends’-, Brussels’ eventual counterattack, with the imposition of tariffs on U.S. products, would still involve all 27 capitals. No one can slip out, not least because it is a decision that, treaties in hand, is up to the Commission alone.

Meloni’s game is not an easy one. Not everyone is convinced that she is the best interlocutor with the US on behalf of Europe. Some because of the prominence of some leaders. Some because of the skepticism that remains among the more pro-European parties-especially liberals and socialists-about the policies of the Italian right.

With respect to the ultra-European wing, Italy’s position on the possibility of a tariff war with the U.S. is close to that of Poland, the Nordics and the Baltics, which are more intent than ever on limiting Trump’s wrath so as not to lose U.S. support for Ukraine. This is, above all, the area pushing to buy more LNG and more arms to America, thus meeting Washington’s demands.

On the military front, Italy is more willing than ever to increase its contribution to NATO, but is totally opposed to increased defense spending weighing on national budgets. And here Meloni got assurances from von der Leyen on “full flexibility,” again staying within the framework of the Stability Pact

Meloni is reportedly planning to be received at the White House in the short term. And the European Commissioner has never hidden her willingness to meet with President Trump, but a bilateral soon appears difficult.