She acknowledged criticism from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance regarding Europe's deviation from commitments to freedom of speech and democracy, agreeing with his assessment during the Munich Security Conference.

Meloni's attendance at Trump's inauguration in January 2025 highlighted her alignment with the U.S., despite the controversial nature of Trump's foreign policies.

Meloni criticized the European Commission's plans to significantly increase defense spending, arguing that strengthening defense should involve more than just purchasing weapons.

Meloni is set to attend an EU summit in Brussels on March 20-21, 2025, where trade issues will be further discussed, underscoring her commitment to engaging with EU leaders.

Her coalition partner, Matteo Salvini, leads the far-right League party and opposes her support for Ukraine and the EU's defense initiatives, complicating her efforts.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged EU leaders to avoid escalating trade disputes with the U.S. through retaliatory tariffs, stressing the need for cooperation with Western allies.

While Meloni supports enhancing Europe's defense capabilities in response to shifting U.S. policies, she has ruled out sending Italian troops for potential peace settlements in Ukraine, facing internal opposition.

Italy currently spends only 1.5% of its GDP on defense, which is below NATO's recommended 2%, weakening Meloni's position in Washington and drawing criticism from U.S. officials.

Public support for increased defense spending in Italy is limited, with recent polls indicating that 39% of voters oppose the ReArm initiative.

In light of rising trade tensions, EU Trade Commissioner Maroefovi is scheduled to meet with U.S. officials, indicating ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

Amid these challenges, Meloni admitted that the Italian economy is facing difficulties, stating, 'not everything is going well' and highlighting the complexity of the current situation.

Italy's appeal for EU support reflects larger geopolitical and economic issues affecting Europe, with potential implications for global trade policies.