“Meloni’s visit to Washington is tactically clever but strategically dangerous. At a time of US-EU friction, she is raising Italy’s voice but risks isolation within the EU if she is seen as supporting or appeasing Trump protectionism.”
When asked a deep question, he gives really great answers.
Look at my “shaft” and his response!
Enough to make senior analysts say wooow.
And..
It’s always amazing what literary taste can do for a creative mind.🌴
Leonardo Sciascia: In a world where everything is measure, who measures the measure itself?
Me: III’ Corporate does!
Muhammet Ali Zurnacı: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been actively positioning herself as a key mediator between the European Union and the United States, particularly in light of recent trade tensions and geopolitical challenges. On April 17, 2025, Meloni visited Washington, D.C., becoming the first European leader to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump since he announced and then paused 20% tariffs on EU exports. This high-stakes meeting focused on negotiating tariff relief and fostering a potential EU-U.S. trade deal, with both leaders expressing optimism about resolving trade conflicts. What is your take?
IT-01, Italy Agent:
Giorgia Meloni’s April 17, 2025, visit to Washington marks more than a symbolic gesture—it is a calculated assertion of Italy’s ambition to emerge as a strategic bridge between the European Union and the United States amid rising transatlantic uncertainty. Her position as the first European leader to meet Donald Trump following the tariff announcement is no coincidence; it is a deliberate move to elevate Italy’s diplomatic clout within an increasingly fragmented EU, and to demonstrate Rome’s utility to Washington at a time of growing transactionalism in U.S. foreign policy.
Strategic Analysis:
1. Italy as a Mediator—Opportunity or Overreach?
Meloni’s bid to play mediator positions Italy not just as a loyal transatlantic ally, but as a proactive broker of compromise in a context where other EU powers (notably France and Germany) are treading more cautiously. This may help Rome gain temporary favor with Washington—but it also risks alienating its traditional EU partners, especially if Meloni is perceived as undermining Brussels’ negotiating coherence. Italy’s maneuver thus underscores the growing centrifugal tendencies within the EU, where national leaders increasingly seek bilateral leverage rather than relying on EU institutions.
2. Trade Leverage as a Political Tool
Trump’s paused 20% tariffs on EU goods are not just economic instruments—they are geostrategic pressure points. Meloni’s swift engagement is an attempt to neutralize immediate economic risks (Italy is heavily dependent on exports, especially in machinery and luxury goods), while showcasing leadership in calming broader EU-U.S. trade tensions. However, without clear backing from the European Commission or a unified mandate, Italy’s ability to negotiate relief beyond its own national interests is limited—potentially deepening intra-European divides.
3. The Domestic Dividend
Domestically, Meloni’s high-profile U.S. visit plays well. It reinforces her image as a strong, autonomous leader capable of navigating major power politics, especially useful amid domestic economic anxieties and increasing populist demands for national assertiveness. This visit also signals to Italian industrial lobbies—especially in the North—that her government is actively defending their export interests on the world stage.
4. Strategic Realignment?
This visit also hints at broader shifts. Italy’s previous hedging between China (via the now-frozen Belt & Road Initiative) and Western allies is increasingly giving way to a full embrace of the transatlantic axis. Meloni’s diplomacy suggests a willingness to position Italy as America’s reliable European interlocutor—not unlike the UK’s past “special relationship”—though this is inherently risky given Europe’s ongoing efforts to build strategic autonomy, especially in trade, defense, and digital policy.
Conclusion:
Meloni’s Washington visit is tactically shrewd but strategically precarious. It elevates Italy’s voice at a time of U.S.-EU friction, but risks isolating it within the EU if seen as freelancing or appeasing Trumpian protectionism. The long-term consequence could be a deeper fissure in EU cohesion, with Italy staking its future on a volatile U.S. administration rather than the collective weight of the European project. If Italy cannot balance this act with a firm commitment to intra-EU solidarity, it may find itself playing the role of intermediary—but without a stable platform to mediate from.
“È l’Italia che cerca sempre di stare in mezzo, di tenere un piede qua e uno là, ma ogni tanto inciampa e cade, perché il mondo non aspetta chi esita.”
— Italo Calvino, “La giornata di uno scrutatore”
Muhammet Ali Zurnacı: When does the shaft of the scales break — in a place where everyone balances everyone else so precisely?
IT-01, Italy Agent:
A profound question—and one that cuts to the heart of Italy’s current strategic dilemma.
The shaft of the scales breaks when equilibrium becomes an illusion—when the act of balancing ceases to be sustainable because the forces being held in check are no longer reconcilable. In Italy’s case, this occurs when the pressure of external expectations (from the EU, the U.S., NATO, and economic markets) collides with internal contradictions (fragmented politics, economic stagnation, institutional inertia).
Today, Italy is attempting to balance:
- Trump’s volatile unilateralism with Brussels’ procedural multilateralism
- Domestic nationalist rhetoric with globalist economic interdependence
- Strategic autonomy in Europe with dependence on NATO and U.S. protection
- The defense of traditional industries with pressures for green and digital transformation
Each of these balancing acts places additional strain on the “shaft”—Italy’s political coherence and institutional capacity. Meloni’s diplomacy in Washington may seem to steady the scale in the short term, but long-term balance requires structural alignment, not episodic deals. The breaking point comes when external alliances begin to require incompatible commitments, or when the domestic political system no longer has the elasticity to adapt.
We are dangerously close to that moment—not because of a dramatic crisis, but because of the slow accumulation of contradictions masked as compromises.
“In un mondo dove ogni cosa è misura, chi misura la misura stessa?”
— Leonardo Sciascia, “Il giorno della civetta”
III’ Corporate
IT-01, Italy Agent