Top forces from the EU and the USA meet in Rome: Secret negotiations!

Top forces from the EU and the USA meet in Rome: Secret negotiations!

Palazzo Chigi, Rom, Italien - On Sunday afternoon, May 18, 2025, the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US Vice President JD Vance met in the Palazzo Chigi, the official residence of the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. The meeting took place on a larger framework because the two politicians and Meloni had previously participated in the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican. The central theme of the talks were the tense relationships between the European Union and the United States, which have been charged in the past few months by the announcement by US President Donald Trump to collect tariffs on the EU.

subsequently on the protests and turbulence on the financial markets, Trump had suspended the tariffs for 90 days in April 2025. Observators are concerned about the upcoming negotiations and the possibility of countermeasures if there is no agreement. In addition, the war in Ukraine and other important international political issues were discussed, which are also in the context of transatlantic relationships.

deeper insights into transatlantic tensions

The tensions between the USA and the EU have become clearer in the past few weeks, especially after the Munich Security Conference, at the Vice President Vance about the challenges of transatlantic relationships. His speech was followed by a phone call between Trump and Vladimir Putin, which triggered concern in the EU and NATO partners to be overlooked in important discussions on Ukraine and international order. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier asked Vance to address the presence of American troops in Europe.

In the meantime,

from Leyen emphasized the need to increase defense spending and military skills in Europe. She warned that a failed Ukraine conflict would weaken both Europe and the United States, which could also result in challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

In his speech, on the other hand,

vance focused on domestic threats to democracy in Europe, which led to critical reactions, including the German side. The German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius expressed concerns that Vances undermines democracy in Europe. Political analysts like Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook refer to these transatlantic differences as more fundamental than just divided by crises, and indicate that Europe must redefine its role and influences.

economic connections and common future

Despite the current tensions, historical roots have shaped the cooperation between the EU and the United States since 1945. The decision of the United States not to withdraw from Europe contributed to the stability during the Cold War and enabled European unification after World War II. For example, the trade between the EU and the United States in 2023 was over EUR 1.5 trillion, which made the United States the largest customer of EU goods.

according to [AUTHRITIGES_AMT.de] (https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/aussenpolitik/transatlantische--s-s- undeu-usa-node) the EU was the most important trading partner in the United States in the same year. Economic relationships are not only essential for both sides, they also offer a framework for strategic cooperation in security issues, which are becoming increasingly relevant in times of geopolitical upheavals.

The thematic interplay of political and economic aspects illustrates the need to further strengthen transatlantic relationships, even if the current challenges appear great. In the upcoming negotiations, the diplomats will be required to find solutions that meet both the economic and security policy needs.

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