Duties? “Trump-Meloni relationship functional to do good for Europe”

“There is certainly harmony between Trump and Meloni and the relationship between the two is also functional to doing the good of Europe.” Thus Giampiero Massolo, senior advisor of ISPI, spoke to Adnkronos about various topics related to Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony, from the meaning of Giorgia Meloni’s presence for Italy, Europe and Africa, up to the message sent from Beijing with the presence of Vice President Han Zheng.

After Trump’s speech, the role of “chosen interlocutor” of Meloni and Italy takes on even more value. “The prime minister said it clearly: the channels with the United States must be kept open. With the past Biden administration there were more, now fewer but they still need to be nurtured”, explained Massolo. Can the Trump-Meloni relationship allow Europe to avoid tariffs and trade clashes? “There is certainly harmony between the two, as was already seen from the first meeting in Paris”, in December, and this is important to be “sure that there are no misunderstandings”. “Anyone who can talk to Trump about Europe and Trump’s Europe is welcome – added the former secretary general of the Farnesina – So in this sense Meloni’s position is positive”.

Can Meloni also be a bridge between the USA and Africa? “In crisis areas such as the Sahel”, explained Massolo, “the synergy between Europe and the United States is fundamental”, and in this sense the direct channel between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni “can be positive”. “We need the American presence in Europe and that there is a synergy of interests – said Massolo – especially in crisis areas such as the Middle East, Ukraine and Sahel, the involvement of the United States allows us to talk about it, and this helps the synergy to develop”.

Massolo, regarding his inauguration speech two days ago, underlined that “in half an hour Trump touched on all the main themes of his electoral campaign”, above all “protection of security and discontinuity with the previous Biden administration”, but the tycoon is above all interested in speaking “to the heart of the country”. There was perhaps less foreign policy in the speech than expected, but Trump was interested in reiterating that “the American people have spoken, endorsing their political program” and affirming the idea of ​​”American exceptionalism”.

The Republican leader sees himself as a “peacemaker for a ‘pax Americana'”, for him “making America great” also means doing “good for the world”. But be careful when defining him as “isolationist”: for the ambassador, Trump is a “unilateralist” for whom the “America First approach rebalances the destinies of the world”. Trump believes in “showing force without the need to use it”, avoiding direct involvement in conflicts, and has attributed the reaching of an agreement for the truce in Gaza to this line.

Finally, the ambassador tried to explain the significance of the presence of Chinese vice president Han Zheng at the ceremony. Trump considers the USA “the metronome of the world”, and it is in this light that the surprising invitation to the inauguration for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who then chose to send his deputy Han Zheng in his place, should be read. “Trump’s message is clear: I am ready to negotiate, but the situation must be rebalanced – explained Massolo – There is margin”.

Beijing’s choice to send Han to Washington, “to all intents and purposes Xi’s delegate”, and “normalizer” of the 2020 Hong Kong protests, is also significant. For China, “it’s a bit like saying: if accept my reason of state, I will accept yours”, and in doing so “puts a relationship between equals on the table”, concluded the former secretary general of the Farnesina.