Subscribe
The Inauguration Day of 20 January 2025 was a very important appointment for conservatives and for the most important international exponents of right-wing parties and movements. In fact, the Inauguration Day of the new US President, Donald Trump, attracted several personalities of the right wing and of the conservative world, leaving on the sidelines other leaders and international institutions less close to the tycoon and his team.
THE PEOPLE PRESENT
The important thing at this juncture, for the leaders present, was to send a message of absolute closeness to the 47th President of the United States. Among them was the President of Argentina, Javier Milei: it was his the idea of setting up an ‘international of conservatives’ – as recalled by various press organs in recent days – perhaps on the impetus of the Trump presidency. Absolutely noteworthy was the presence of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the only European leader to be present in the USA. Just after the ceremony, the Italian premier released a video (immediately picked up by all the US media) where she explained the meaning of her presence. Meloni spoke about Italy and its close relationship with the United States, as well as the desire to strengthen this bond at such a special time internationally. Meloni’s gaze is certainly on the global market, but also on the war on Europe’s doorstep and the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that could gain momentum with the tycoon’s second term. While the Italian Prime Minister was the only European leader to attend the ceremony, there was no shortage of representatives of conservative and right-wing parties of the old continent. These included Reform Party leader Nigel Farage and Afd co-chair Tino Chrupalla, as well as the Spaniard from Vox, Santiago Abascal. Absent – although on the guest list – was Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Representing Hungary, however, was MEP Kinga Gál. The European Conservative delegation was also well represented. In fact, the ECR was represented – in addition to the outgoing President Meloni – by the President Mateusz Morawiecki, the AUR leader George Simion, Frenchwoman Marion Maréchal and, again for Italy, by Antonio Giordano and Carlo Fidanza.
EUROPE, THE GREAT ABSENTEE
The absence of the leaders of the big European countries has certainly not gone unnoticed. PM Meloni is increasingly configuring herself as the interlocutor of Trump and his administration in Europe. A role that is not insignificant (and above all, not easy) if we think of one of the topics mentioned by the Tycoon in his speech, which is most closely followed by the European chancelleries. We are of course talking about the desire to impose tariffs on trade with foreign countries (the announcement has already arrived with 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada as of February 1st). A subject dear to Meloni’s heart not only because of her role on the European scene, but above all because Italy itself would be strongly affected by such a measure, given its close trade ties with the USA. From the point of view of the European institutions, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke of wanting to maintain a ‘pragmatic’ approach towards the US. She added that there are no economies more integrated than the US and European economies.
THE ISSUES AND THE SCENARIO
Apart from statements on immigration or control of the Panama Canal and the Gulf of Mexico, what will weigh in the coming months will be how the new US administration handles the stabilisation of the conflict in Gaza, initiated by former President Biden. But also, how much can be done to put an end to hostilities in Ukraine. Indeed, among the great absentees at the ceremony, one cannot forget the Ukrainian president Zelensky, who merely congratulated the tycoon via social media. Although he never mentioned Ukraine in his speech, the issue remains at the heart of US interests. Not least because Trump had declared that he could resolve the issue in 24 hours. A statement that has already been downgraded in recent weeks, but which Trump wanted to recall by stating that he wants to meet Putin as soon as possible. From the European Union’s point of view, President von der Leyen stated that the territory of Ukraine must remain sovereign and that the nation must decide on its own future. This is a central issue that will be very much on the agendas of European chancelleries in the coming months, especially in relation to the moves that the new US President intends to make on the path to resolving the conflict.