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Ahead of President Donald Trump's official meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, senior Trump administration officials said they see her as a "valuable interlocutor" with the European Union, including on trade, immigration and efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
" President Trump will not just focus on how to open up the Italian market, but also how they can help us with the rest of Europe ," a senior Trump administration official said in a phone call previewing the visit.
Another senior official said the visit will also focus on Meloni's role as a key force in Europe and a voice that largely sees eye to eye with the president on many issues such as immigration and the need to end the war in Ukraine.
" We certainly see her as a valuable interlocutor with the EU ," the official continued.
Trump and the right-wing Meloni fall on similar ideological lines and have a positive relationship – the president has publicly praised Meloni and she was the only European leader invited to Trump's second inauguration.
But the strength of their rapport could be tested today, as Meloni is expected to push Trump on trade and tariffs. The second official said Trump is taking this very seriously and the White House is ready to make a deal.
In addition to trade, senior officials said the two leaders are expected to discuss defense, transportation and Italy's role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). They also want to discuss ways to increase cooperation in space and Italy's interest in freeing up "American energy exports to the rest of the world."
Officials said the meeting has been long in the making and was not planned as a direct response to Trump's tariffs.
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