Vance conferences with Meloni in Rome preceding Easter, at the Vatican
Rewritten Article:
And now, let's take a look at some international politics...
Vice President JD Vance meeting with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and Talking Trade
Friday saw US Vice President JD Vance touch down in Rome for an exciting series of meetings, marking his first trip to Europe since his fiery speech at the Munich Security Conference back in February. The agenda? Bur nose-to-nose with Giorgia Meloni, Italy's conservative leader who shares plenty of Vance's views, and none other than Pope Francis's right-hand man. But there's more to this meeting than just pleasantries – it seems Vance might be updating Meloni on some pressing trade negotiations with the European Union.
Before their powwow, Vance shared his excitement about the opportunity, saying, "I'm grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday." He expressed optimism that the duo could help bring an end to the brutal war that has been raging on, likely referring to the ongoing conflict in Europe.
In anticipation of the meeting between the two leaders, Meloni had previously visited former President Donald Trump in Washington, discussing the potential for a EU-US trade deal. With Trump's threatened tariffs having the potential to impact Italy greatly (as roughly 10% of the country's exports go to the United States), a resolution to this trade issue would be welcomed with open arms.
Vance is set to chat with the Vatican's second-in-command, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, later on Saturday and attend Easter mass in St. Peter's Square on Sunday. He and his family also received a private tour of Castel Sant'Angelo, a historic landmark steeped in Roman and religious history.
Though Trump has positioned Meloni as the only European leader capable of de-escalating the trade war, there may still be some disagreements to iron out. While Trump expressed confidence about a potential trade deal, he also stated that there was no rush to make a decision. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the other hand, expressed skepticism, suggesting that the United States might move on should peace seem impossible in the short term.
Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to follow this developing story. Because let's face it, in politics, you can never really know what's going to happen next!
Sources:* European Commission (2023). EU-US Trade: Background and Chances for Progress. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/trade-policy/countries-and-regions/countries/united-states/eu-us-trade-background-and-chances-for-progress_en* Reuters (2024). EU and US Face Contentious Final Stretch of Trade Talks. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/eu-us-face-contentious-final-stretch-trade-talks-2024-03-01/
- Despite the ongoing dispute, Vice President JD Vance discussed potential EU-US trade negotiations with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, an Italian conservative leader who shares similar views with Vance.
- As a significant portion of Italy's exports goes to the United States, a resolution to the trade issue would offer relief, particularly considering former President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs.
- In the run-up to the meeting, Meloni met with Trump in Washington, discussing the possibility of a EU-US trade deal that could potentially mitigate the impact of potential tariffs on Italy.
- Despite optimism from both parties, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed skepticism, suggesting that the United States might move on if peace seems elusive in the short term.
- Giorgia Meloni's ability to de-escalate the trade war, as suggested by Trump, remains uncertain, considering the lingering disagreements that need to be addressed in the negotiations.
