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Risk of hysteria in Europe. Indeed, to use a war term uttered by Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, there is a real danger of “deflagration.” Which, translated, means a divided EU at a time of “historic choices,” just to borrow the words of the Minister released to La Repubblica and published by the newspaper in its Saturday edition, on February 15.
These are turbulent weeks for the Old Continent. Donald Trump’s pragmatic and unconventional way of doing politics is putting European allies on edge. In just a few days, relations between Brussels and Washington have deteriorated. And the duties announced and flaunted by The Donald are the reason only to a certain extent. For what started the escalation of friction and tensions on both sides of the Atlantic was the speech in Munich given by U.S. Vice President, James David Vance. At the Security Conference, Vance hit the Union of 27 hard. He touched raw nerves, to the point that more than one participant became irritated, judging disrespectful the expressions used by the U.S. number two. Without mincing words, the former senator from Ohio shoved the stark reality in the faces of European leaders, ministers and policymakers. It is worrying the United States more than anything else that the EU is moving away from those values it has always shared and defended with the United States. These include that freedom of speech which, as pronounced by Trump’s deputy, “is beating a retreat in Europe.”
Vance’s axe also came down on 10 years of failed migration policies and especially on defence spending. In tones that might sound harsh and forceful, another sacrosanct truth came from Washington: Europe needs to put more effort into its military defence. Touché, fencing experts would say. The shot hit the mark and left its dent, because the retort of the President of the European Commission was not long in coming. Ursula von der Leyen, also in the Bavarian city, relaunched and affirmed that for the investments supported by the member countries with the intention of updating and hardening their military compartment, the safeguard clause will be activated. As with the pandemic emergency, the expenditures made by each individual state will be considered outside the Stability Pact.
This is a solution that Giorgia Meloni has always defended and indicated as fundamental, given that committing between 3 and 5 percent of gross domestic product to defence spending would be arduous to sustain for the budget of any European state.
The Italian premier, who has repeatedly had to resort to her diplomatic skills to recompose the latest rifts between Europe and the United States, applauded the Berlaymont Palace decision. At the Italy-Sweden bilateral, Meloni called on Europe not to stop at just this choice and to work in a concrete way to consolidate the Atlantic alliance, which is based on the European and North American pillars.
If the political situation has not deflagrated, much of the credit must be given to Italy and its prime minister. Italy, the glue of Europe but also a bridge that reduces the distance from the United States. This is the role that the government in Rome is carving out for itself. This is confirmed by the very words of the Swedish prime minister, Ufi Kristersson, who is visiting the capital. The 61-year-old politician from Lund, who has been leading Sweden since October 2022, just like Giorgia Meloni, ratified the position and the task taken on by the Bel Paese in keeping firm the connection between Europe and the other side of the Atlantic, especially in times like these, crucial to reach a solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The coming weeks will be delicate and decisive. On the one hand, it will become clear whether a rapid ceasefire and an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia will be reached; on the other hand, the measures needed to ensure peace and stability on Europe’s eastern front will be planned. The turning point, in short, is near.
From the summit in Washington between Trump and Zelensky, which will focus on the agreement on Ukrainian rare earths – crucial to the energy transition and to make hi-tech components that are also applied and used in the medical and military sectors – the future scenario can be glimpsed. Europe is watching with interest. Certainly, Brussels will not want to be cut out of the deal. To be part of the game, however, will require much, much diplomacy. Among the European leaders listened to with interest and attention by The Donald, there is only Giorgia Meloni.
In London, where the summit between the prime ministers of the Old Continent is scheduled for Sunday, March 2, they will start with what was agreed on at the White House. Then, the plan for peace will be addressed. Macron and Starmer want to send 30,000 European peacekeepers to Ukrainian territories. Italy, however, does not see this as a priority. The solution brought forward by Rome is to create the right conditions for a contingent of blue helmets to operate, thus neutral and under the UN flag.
Diplomacy is the watchword, especially with such different views and visions both in Europe and outside. Right now, the only leader capable of consolidating the Atlantic alliance and avoiding Europe’s isolation is Giorgia Meloni.