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Relations between the White House and the rest of the West appear tense. There is even a possibility that Trump will not physically attend the G7 summit to be held in mid-June in Evian, France...
A European Council is taking place under the shadow of Donald Trump. While on the island of Cyprus, the 27 member states discuss solutions to cope with the energy crisis caused by the war in the Persian Gulf, linked to the policies of the American president and Benjamin Netanyahu, news arrives from Washington that increases tensions.
According to these reports, the Pentagon is considering "measures" against NATO allies that are considered unreliable in supporting the conflict with Iran. Among the options mentioned are the suspension of Spain from the Atlantic Alliance, as well as the review of the American position on the British claim to the Falkland Islands.
Relations between the White House and the rest of the West appear tense. There is even a possibility that Trump will not physically attend the G7 summit to be held in mid-June in Evian, France. During discussions in the Council, it has been rumored that he may limit himself to a video link, which would be interpreted as a cold signal to the G7 and also to French President Emmanuel Macron, who had adjusted the dates of the summit to avoid clashing with Trump's 80th birthday on June 14.
Relations between the US and Italy also remain complicated. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated during a break of the informal Council in Cyprus that she had not had any recent contacts with Trump. She stressed that relations with the US remain stable, but added that she is not currently taking any specific steps to rebuild her personal relationship with the former president.
Meloni was critical of the ideas circulating from the Pentagon and aligned herself with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. She stressed the need to strengthen NATO and the European pillar of the Alliance as a complementary element. She also expressed reservations about Trump's decision to invite Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit to be held in Miami on December 14-15, underlining that the priority should be to pressure Russia for concrete steps.
Another issue concerns the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. During the day, Meloni met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The United States appears hesitant to extend the mission's mandate, while Italy and France are working to overcome American opposition, influenced by Israel. Italy currently has about 1,300 troops on the ground. Meloni stressed that the international presence on the border between Lebanon and Israel remains essential and that the issue is being discussed with partners, also seeking an appropriate legal basis and the involvement of parliament. From 2027, participation in a mission without a UN mandate is considered a real possibility.
The Cyprus summit also discussed the energy price crisis. Meloni described the European Commission's measures as "insufficient" and called for more flexibility, in particular the exclusion of crisis-related spending from the deficit calculation. This approach is also supported by Spain, which also calls for an extension of the recovery fund. On the other hand, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz takes a different position. He held a long meeting with Meloni, which, according to her, did not lead to a final solution. / Adapted from "Il Giornale"
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