References PRIF Spotlight 10/2026

A bridge to nowhere? Giorgia Meloni and her balancing act between the United States and Europe

by Giusy Cavasso and Fabio Figiaconi  | To the publication

¹ Cheetam J. (2026, June, 20) Meloni tells Trump to 'focus on your own popularity' as row escalates. BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgqj77909jpo

² De Michele S. (2026, April, 15) Trump-Meloni, cronologia dello strappo: da flirt politico a rapporto in cris., Euronews, https://it.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/04/15/trump-meloni-cronologia-dello-strappo-da-flirt-politico-a-rapporto-in-crisi

³  Glasser S.B. ( 2018, December, 17) How Trump made war on Angela Merkel and Europe. The New Yorker, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/12/24/how-trump-made-war-on-angela-merkel-and-europe

⁴ Von Daniels L., Major C., von Ondarza N., (2024), How Europe is preparing for Trump II. SWP Working Paper, https://www.swp-berlin.org/publications/products/arbeitspapiere/European_Perspectives_on_Trump_II_WP_von_Daniels_Major_von_Ondarza.pdf

⁵ Guardian News (2025, January, 20) From Musk to Meloni: the guests at Trump’s inauguration. Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU6GEOFqAHU

⁶ Franke B., (2025), Speech by JD Vance and Selected Reactions, Selected Speeches held at the Munich Security Conference, Volume II. MSC. https://securityconference.org/assets/user_upload/MSC_Speeches_2025_Vol2_Ansicht.pdf

⁷ Roberts H.,( 2026, January, 27), Giorgia Meloni emerges as America and Europe’s go-between, The Observer, https://observer.co.uk/news/international/article/giorgia-meloni-emerges-as-america-and-europes-go-between

⁸ Iqbal N., (2025, April, 17), Meloni is known as the Trump whisperer - can she strike a balance?, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cewgn4jnkd2t?post=asset%3Aada005fa-791d-4724-b8fe-0e5f732b8a03#post

⁹ The White House (2025, April,17), President Trump Participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy, Apr. 17, 2025. Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us7F6jsRpmA

¹⁰ Board of Peace (2026), The Charter. Board of Peace https://boardofpeace.org/charter

¹¹ Il Post (2026, February, 19), Cosa significa che l’Italia parteciperà al Consiglio di pace di Trump come “osservatore”, Il Post, https://www.ilpost.it/2026/02/19/consiglio-pace-meloni-tajani-gaza-osservatore/

¹² The Straits Times (2026, January, 24), Italy’s Meloni hopes to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize. The Straits Times, https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/italys-meloni-hopes-to-nominate-trump-for-nobel-peace-prize

¹³ Governo Italiano Presidenza Consiglio dei Ministri (2026, January, 6), Joint Statement on Greenland. Governo, https://www.governo.it/it/node/30694

¹⁴ Il Post, (2026, January, 29), Giorgia Meloni fa l’equilibrista sulla Groenlandia. Il Post https://www.ilpost.it/2026/01/19/meloni-groenlandia-trump-salvini-borghi-crosetto/

¹⁵ Governo Italiano Presidenza Consiglio dei Ministri (2025, August, 16), Statement by President Meloni on Ukraine. Governo, https://www.governo.it/it/node/29581

¹⁶ The White House (2025, April,18), United States – Italy Joint Leaders’ Statement. White House, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/04/united-states-italy-joint-leaders-statement/

¹⁷ Peretti A., (2025, March, 17), Meloni balances EU and US interests in “coalition of the willing” summit discussion. Euractiv, https://www.euractiv.com/news/meloni-balances-eu-and-us-interests-in-coalition-of-the-willing-summit-discussion/

¹⁸ Prime Minister’s Office, (2026, January, 7), Declaration of intent between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The French Republic and Ukraine relating to the deployment of multinational forces in support of the defence, reconstruction and strategic sustainability of Ukraine, Gov.UK, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/declaration-of-intent-between-the-united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland-the-french-republic-and-ukraine-relating-to-the-deployment-of/declaration-of-intent-between-the-united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland-the-french-republic-and-ukraine-relating-to-the-deployment-of

¹⁹ Reuters,( 2026, March, 1), Italy's stranded defence minister to return from Dubai on military aircraft. Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/italys-stranded-defence-minister-return-dubai-military-aircraft-2026-03-01/

²⁰ Cottone N., (2026, March, 10), War in Iran, Italians worried about economic impact on petrol and gas. 59% condemn the attack. IlSole24ore, https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/iran-war-italians-worried-about-economic-impact-petrol-and-gas-59-per-cent-condemn-attack-AI5VZ9rB#google_vignette

²¹ International Trade Administration (2026, February, 3), Italy Country Commercial guide, Natural Gas & Renewable Energy. U.S. Government, https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/italy-natural-gas-renewable-energy

²² IlSole24ore (2026, March, 9), Iran, Meloni: ''Italia non è in guerra e non intende esserlo''. IlSole24ore, https://stream24.ilsole24ore.com/video/mondo/iran-meloni--italia-non-e-guerra-e-non-intende-esserlo-/AIWtvvqB

²³ Rainsford S., (2026, March, 23), Referendum defeat leaves Italy's Meloni looking more vulnerable. BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crl1ne8dj1eo

²⁴ Ipsos Doxa, (2026, May, 16), Trump e l'Italia: cosa pensano gli italiani del Presidente americano. Ipsos, https://www.ipsos.com/it-it/trump-italia-opinioni-italiani-presidente-americano

²⁵ Rampini, F. (2026, March, 24), Trump e il referendum. Il fattore T ha già influenzato diverse elezioni nel mondo. CorriereTV, https://video.corriere.it/esteri/oriente-occidente/trump-e-il-referendum-il-fattore-t-ha-gia-influenzato-diverse-elezioni-nel-mondo/b1b64cb6-50bb-470e-b234-b16b64ac0xlk

²⁶ Varvelli A., (2026, March, 26), The Trump trap: Why Meloni’s referendum defeat is a warning for Europe. European Council on Foreign Relations, https://ecfr.eu/article/the-trump-trap-why-melonis-referendum-defeat-is-a-warning-for-europe/

²⁷ Naval Technology (2012, March,14), Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella. Naval Technology, https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/naval-air-station-sigonella/?cf-view

²⁸ Schumann N., (2026, April, 07), Why did Italy deny US bombers access to an Italian airbase? Euronews, https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/04/07/why-did-italy-deny-us-bombers-access-to-an-italian-airbase

²⁹ Trump D.J. (2026, April, 13). TruthSocial, https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116394704213456431?__cf_chl_f_tk=MFOAHnHqppAWgj.t6.p_mHMV.RbHUSCFTuD5L8oulxw-1782828166-1.0.1.1-ExVBMq.mmy4LGdIHO7ezKRh_fqklMWxEcaTL278k7iY

³⁰ Reuters, (2026, April,14), Italy's Meloni backs Pope Leo in clash with Trump. Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k96uIb44mQM

³¹ Mazza V., (2026, April, 15), L’intervista integrale di Donald Trump al «Corriere» su Giorgia Meloni.  Il Corriere della Sera, https://www.corriere.it/esteri/26_aprile_15/trump-intervista-corriere-meloni-a80287f2-cda8-4c1b-b0f1-e6de689c1xlk.shtml 

³² Giuffrida A., (2026, June, 19), Italy PM Meloni ‘stunned’ by Trump’s claims she begged him for a photo. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/19/giorgia-meloni-stunned-donald-trump-claims-begged-him-photo

³³ Cheetam J. (2026, June, 20),Meloni tells Trump to 'focus on your own popularity' as row escalates. BBC, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgqj77909jpo

³⁴ BBC, (2026, June, 19), 'Neither I nor Italy ever beg': Meloni on Trump after 'unfounded' anecdote. BBC , https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cvgdqlxlp9wo

³⁵ Alcaro R., (2026, April, 28), Giorgia Meloni clung to her relationship with Trump – now it’s starting to look like a liability. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/28/giorgia-meloni-donald-trump-italian-prime-minister-europe-us-iran-war

³⁶ Giuffrida A., (2024, June, 12), ‘All eyes are on her’: Italy’s far-right chameleon, Giorgia Meloni, prepares to host the G7. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/12/all-eyes-are-on-her-italys-far-right-chameleon-giorgia-meloni-prepares-to-host-the-g7

³⁷ Pugliese G., Ghiretti F., Insisa A, (2022, May, 09), Italy's embrace of the Belt and Road Initiative: populist foreign policy and political marketing.  International Affairs, Volume 98, Issue 3, Pages 1033–1051, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiac039

³⁸ Bertuzzi L., (2026, Jun, 24), E5, Macron e Meloni rilanciano la difesa europea: "L’Europa deve assumersi più responsabilità". Euronews, https://it.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/06/24/e5-macron-e-meloni-rilanciano-la-difesa-europea-leuropa-deve-assumersi-piu-responsabilita 

³⁹ Disegni S., (2026, June, 23), Spese militari, l’ultimatum dell’Ue a Meloni: «Decida entro un mese o dirottiamo 15 miliardi». Ma Giorgetti prende tempo. Open https://www.open.online/2026/06/23/ue-italia-fondi-safe-spese-difesa-meloni-giorgetti-crosetto/ 

^* Il Post (2025, April, 18), Non è chiaro cosa Meloni abbia ottenuto da Trump, a parte molti complimenti, Il Post, https://www.ilpost.it/2025/04/18/trump-meloni-washington-casa-bianca-studio-ovale-dazi/ 

^** Beloli A., (2026, March, 5), Basi militari USA e NATO in Italia: dove si trovano e chi decide se e come vanno utilizzate. Geopop, https://www.geopop.it/basi-nato-e-usa-in-italia-quante-sono-e-dove-si-trovano/

^*** Statista (2026, June, 1), Number of active-duty United States military personnel in Europe in 2026, by country. Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1294271/us-troops-europe-country/?srsltid=AfmBOoqsYDgnGnDCKM4tPCuJXayvtdYipa6koDraxPD8BjvC6LvCFegk