Italian prime minister was a notable absence from the Munich Security Conference.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she does not agree with the German chancellor’s assessment of the influence of MAGA culture in Europe.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that “the culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours” in Europe during his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, in a strong intervention that saw him declare the U.S. leadership as “perhaps already lost.”
Asked by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera whether she agrees with Merz’s criticisms, Meloni said “No,” adding that “these are political evaluations, every leader does them as he sees fit, but it’s not a matter of concern within the European Union’s jurisdiction.”
Meloni has a book coming out soon in the U.S., titled Giorgia’s Vision, with a foreword from U.S. Vice President JD Vance and a quote from Donald Trump on the front cover.
The divide between Rome and Berlin is notable after the two leaders held a summit together in late January — a meeting that was billed as an effort to drive forward European priorities including on relations with Washington, in the absence of a strong Franco-German alliance.
When asked if she agreed with Merz’s criticism of Trump’s America, Meloni replied: “Look, it’s clear that we’re in a very complex phase in international relations; we’re also in a particular phase in relations between Europe and the United States.”
“I think Merz is correct when he says that Europe must focus on itself and do more, for example on security, starting with NATO’s European pillar. I agree with that,” she said.
But she pushed back on any idea that Europe should be looking to go it alone, saying that “we must instead work towards greater integration between Europe and the United States.”
“Working to enhance what unites us rather than what might divide us is very important for everyone, especially for European countries. I believe it’s very important for Italy.”
In the same interview she also talked about Trump’s Board of Peace, tasked with making peace in Gaza. She said that Rome has been invited “as an observer country” and in her opinion “it is a good solution.”
Meloni was a notable absence from the gathering in Munich, instead choosing to travel to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia despite suggestions she had been invited to speak immediately after Merz.