How the "Trump factor" influences Italian politics and what it means for Ukraine
Donald Trump's return to the White House has "emboldened" many right-wing and far-right politicians in Europe.
Italy is no exception, but with its own peculiarities.
Current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, representing the right-conservative spectrum of Italian politics, has had a fairly smooth relationship with the new US president’s team from the start.
However, it seems that Trump may have a new favourite in Italy.
Read more in the article by Victoria Vdovychenko of the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge – Outpacing Meloni: who in Italy wants to Become "Trump’s best friend" and what this could change.
On 21 March, Matteo Salvini held a 15-minute phone conversation with US Vice President J.D. Vance. The Italian politician did not coordinate this call with either the Prime Minister or the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to Salvini’s party, the League, the two politicians discussed a range of topics: from illegal migration and "Made in Italy" to the importance of establishing American satellite communication, hinting at Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The next step is Salvini’s already announced trip to Washington. Although no date or itinerary has been set, it is expected to happen soon.
The opposition immediately saw Salvini’s US visit as a sign of an "internal war" with Giorgia Meloni, who has just returned from the European Council and is preparing for her visit to the White House.
Some suspect Salvini is trying to "outpace" Meloni ahead of the "Coalition of the Willing" meeting initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron this week.
Salvini, however, denies any such ambitions, insisting that "the government is stronger and more stable than ever."
Salvini’s main advantage is that he was the only Italian political leader to openly and demonstratively bet on Trump’s victory. Washington has certainly taken note.
Following his conversation with Vance, Salvini praised Trump’s "peacekeeping" efforts and once again strongly criticised European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s Rearm Europe security initiative.
Classic "Euroscepticism," expressed in criticism of EU institutions, has long been a staple of right-centrist parties, including the League. Italian journalists also highlight the ideological overlap between such Italian parties and the anti-European rhetoric of the US Republican Party.
Even the slogan "America First" echoes the League’s slogan: "Italians First."
However, analysts point out a strategic problem for Salvini’s party: What will he say to the thousands of small and medium-sized Italian business owners worried about potential new US tariffs on their exports?
These tariffs could pose a problem for Meloni, but not necessarily for her deputy. Salvini could position himself as the only Italian leader capable of negotiating with Trump.
Clearly, Salvini will present himself as yet another "European Trump," challenging Giorgia Meloni’s "pro-Ukraine" stance.
Meanwhile, Meloni is trying to balance her support for Ukraine with the need to fit into the "Coalition of the Willing" while adjusting to the new realities in the White House.
But how long can the Italian Prime Minister maintain this balancing act? Especially if Trump decides that there are politicians in her government who align more closely with his new vision for global geopolitical shifts.