Meloni opposes EU tariffs on US, rejects troop deployment to Ukraine

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Mar 2025 20:24

The Prime Minister raised concerns over the European Commission's plans to increase defense spending under an initiative labeled "ReArm Europe."

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Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks with the media during an EU Summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, March 6, 2025 (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has urged European nations to avoid escalating a trade dispute with the United States through retaliatory tariffs, stressing the need for a diplomatic approach. Addressing parliament ahead of an upcoming EU summit, she cautioned that trade tensions should not overshadow the broader strategic relationship between Europe and Washington.

Meloni, who has maintained strong ties with US President Donald Trump, stressed the importance of transatlantic cooperation and dismissed the idea that European nations should establish an independent security framework. "It is a simple fact of reality that it is not possible to envision a lasting security guarantee by dividing Europe and the United States," she told lawmakers.

The United States recently reintroduced tariffs on European steel and aluminum, citing trade imbalances. In response, the European Commission has announced plans to impose countermeasures on $28 billion worth of US goods beginning next month. However, Meloni questioned the effectiveness of this strategy.

"I am not certain that responding to tariffs with more tariffs is necessarily a good deal," she remarked, warning that such actions could fuel inflation and slow economic growth. Instead, she advocated for negotiations, stating, "For this reason, I believe Italy's efforts should be directed toward seeking common-sense solutions between the United States and Europe, guided more by logic than by instinct."

Opposition to European Troop Deployment in Ukraine

As European nations discuss potential security arrangements amid uncertainty over continued US military support, Britain and France have floated the idea of deploying a European peacekeeping force to Ukraine should a ceasefire agreement be reached. Meloni dismissed the proposal, stating that Italy would not participate.

"The deployment of Italian troops to Ukraine has never been on the agenda, just as we believe that the deployment of European troops proposed by France and the United Kingdom is a very complex, risky, and ineffective option," she declared.

She also raised concerns over the European Commission's plans to increase defense spending under an initiative labeled "ReArm Europe." While acknowledging the need for stronger defense capabilities, she argued that the name itself could be misleading. "I believe that 'ReArm Europe' is a misleading name for citizens because we are called upon to strengthen our defense capabilities, but today this does not simply mean buying weapons," she said.