MILAN (AP) - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni is set to navigate a pivotal role as a mediator between the European Union (EU) and the United States during her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. This marks the first in-person meeting between a European leader and Trump since he announced, and subsequently suspended, a contentious 20% tariff on European imports.

Meloni's meeting comes at a critical phase in ongoing trade tensions, and she has forged close communications with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen leading up to this encounter. The European Commission has emphasized that Meloni's outreach is “closely coordinated,” indicating a united front for the EU as it confronts U.S. tariff policies.

In a statement made this week in Rome, Meloni remarked, “We know we are in a difficult moment. Most certainly, I am well aware of what I represent, and what I am defending.” The stakes are high as the EU defends what is regarded as the most important commercial relationship in the world, with annual trade figures hitting approximately 1.6 trillion euros ($1.8 trillion).

While trade negotiations fall under the jurisdiction of the European Commission, the EU is advocating for a zero-for-zero tariff agreement with the U.S. Conversely, officials from the Trump administration have not indicated a willingness to soften their stance regarding the baseline 10% tariff on foreign imports. Trump had previously paused the 20% retaliatory increase for 90 days, sparking some optimism for negotiations. Analysts suggest that, rather than seeking direct concessions, Meloni’s goal should primarily be to clarify Trump’s objectives.

According to Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist at the European Policy Center in Brussels, “It is a very delicate mission. There is the whole trade agenda, and while she is not officially negotiating, we know that Trump likes to have this kind of informal exchange, which in a sense is a negotiation." This puts a significant amount of pressure on Meloni as she attempts to balance her responsibilities as Italy’s leader while also acting on behalf of the EU.

Meloni, the leader of a far-right party, shares ideological affinities with Trump, particularly on immigration, traditional values, and skepticism toward multilateral institutions. However, a notable divergence exists regarding her unwavering support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict. Meloni has been characterized as acting with caution in response to the unpredictable nature of U.S. policy changes under Trump, even condemning the tariffs as “wrong” and cautioning against the risks of fracturing the West.

Italy maintains a substantial trade surplus with the United States, amounting to 40 billion euros, largely driven by American consumption of Italian goods such as sparkling wine, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Parma ham, and luxury fashion items. These sectors are critical to the Italian economy, predominantly benefiting small and medium-sized producers who form a significant portion of Meloni’s support base.

Antonio Villafranca, vice president of the ISPI think tank in Milan, opined that Meloni would likely emphasize the robust economic ties that Italy has with the U.S., extending beyond exports to include services and energy. He noted that Italy might consider increasing its imports of gas from the United States, thereby diversifying its energy sources.

As Italy grapples with economic forecasts cut from 1% to 0.5% growth for the year due to escalating tariff wars, Meloni is also expected to address NATO's military spending obligations. Currently, Italy's defense budget stands at 1.49% of its GDP, which is among the lowest in Europe, while NATO partners are urged to increase this to 2%.

Experts, however, advise against overly optimistic expectations for tangible outcomes from the summit. Wolfango Piccoli, an analyst at Teneo, remarked, “The best strategy has been to be very circumspect: Get there, get the meeting, get the photo opportunity.” He added that returning with insights into how Washington plans to shape future relations concerning trade, defense, and Ukraine policy would represent a significant achievement for Meloni.