Trump wants deals – and the EU is delivering? Brussels plans to buy more US weapons and gas to accommodate Trump in the trade conflict. Meloni is to mediate.

The European Union is apparently preparing for a controversial diplomatic initiative to defuse the looming trade conflict with the United States. According to information from the Bild newspaper, Brussels is currently internally exploring an offer to the government of US President Donald Trump that should achieve one thing above all: it should be able to be sold to him as a victory in domestic politics.

The central idea is that the EU could import significantly more American weapons and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the future. This would be a concession by Brussels to one of Trump’s core concerns: reducing the US trade deficit with Europe. According to Bild, confidential talks are already underway in several EU capitals – the possible scope of the arms deal is estimated at up to €150 billion.

Meloni to meet Trump – as EU ambassador?

The diplomatic timing is no coincidence: on Thursday (April 18th), Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be the first European head of government to be received at the White House since Trump’s re-election. As the Italian daily Corriere della Sera reports, she is considered to be very well connected politically – with both Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Diplomats in Brussels hope that Meloni will act as a mediator in Washington and help to break the deadlock in the tariff dispute.

Specifically, the suspension of existing punitive tariffs on European products is at stake – an issue that has become significantly more explosive again due to Trump’s protectionist line. According to Politico Europe, the EU wants to prevent an escalation by making the US an offer. If Trump does not give in, EU diplomats say new taxes on large American digital companies such as Meta, Amazon or Google are on the table as a countermeasure.

Weapons instead of “Buy European”?

The signal to European industry is explosive: the planned purchases of US weapons systems would contradict the EU’s previous line of prioritizing European arms manufacturers for rearmament as part of the “Readiness 2030” program. According to the Financial Times, this step is said to be controversial internally – but in Brussels, pressure is growing to counter the conflict with the US with a pragmatic solution.

According to Corriere della Sera, Rome has already signaled the green light – both for additional LNG purchases and for US weapons systems. Positive signals are also coming from Berlin, as the Welt reported, citing EU circles. If France, traditionally protective of its own arms industry, does not stand in the way, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič could make progress in Washington in the next few days. According to Reuters, he is already in the US capital for talks.

Meloni warns against rapprochement with China

Another topic of Meloni’s visit: Europe’s relationship with China. Unlike Spain’s head of government, Pedro Sánchez, who recently made a conciliatory gesture towards Beijing, Meloni wants a clear positioning on the side of the United States, according to Il Giornale. She had previously stated that she wanted to prevent the EU from entering into a “pact with China” on the tariff issue.

Her stated goal is a “0-0 solution” – in other words, the complete removal of all tariffs on both sides of the Atlantic. In Italy, a “zero-zero” result is traditionally considered honorable – not only in football.