Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is at the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
The focus of the meeting is expected to be the issue of tariffs, which have caused considerable tension between Washington and Brussels recently.
US President Donald Trump hosted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House today, where he declared that there will be a meeting with the EU on the issue of tariffs.
"There will be a trade deal, 100%, but it will be a fair deal," he said.
On the other hand, Meloni also said that she is convinced that she can reach an agreement with Donald Trump.
"I'm sure we can make a deal. I'm here to help with this. I think the best way is for us to just talk honestly," Meloni said.
Trump described Meloni as a great prime minister and, according to him, she is doing a fantastic job.
"I like Meloni a lot. I think she's a great prime minister, she's doing a fantastic job," Trump said. "She's one of the real leaders of the world. She's become my friend," he added.
Meanwhile, the Italian Prime Minister said that an agreement on tariffs will be reached, while inviting the US president to Rome to negotiate on tariffs with European leaders.
"With Trump, we are united by the fight against the Woke culture, immigration, the trafficking of ferntanil. There are disputes over tariffs, a solution will be found. Italy will have to increase imports of American liquefied gas and our companies will invest 10 billion lek here. Our economies are interconnected, with Europe massive exchanges. I want our civilizations to no longer have problems, we must find dialogue and solutions. In Rome we will be able to meet Trump and Europe to negotiate."
Meloni is the first European leader to visit Washington since Trump imposed 20% tariffs on EU goods earlier this month. The tariffs have now been suspended for 90 days, giving the EU and the US a chance to negotiate.
Senior Trump administration officials, in a press conference before the meeting, emphasized Meloni's role as the US president's valuable interlocutor with the European Union, on issues such as trade, immigration and the search for a solution to the war in Ukraine.