Rome, Mar 18 (EFE).— Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US Vice President JD Vance met in Rome on Friday to discuss EU trade ties and efforts toward a Ukraine ceasefire, following her talks with President Donald Trump in Washington a day earlier.
Vance’s official visit to Italy came just a day after Meloni-Trump talks in Washington, where they sought to align positions on tariffs and the broader transatlantic trade dispute.
Speaking outside Palazzo Chigi, the seat of Italy’s government, Vance said his meeting with Meloni would focus on EU trade negotiations and dialogue for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Meloni welcomed Vance with praise for the enduring ties between the two countries.
“This visit is another great opportunity to strengthen our bilateral cooperation. There were many topics we discussed yesterday, and many we will also discuss today,” Meloni said, adding that Italy remains “an extremely important partner” for the United States in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Vance, who arrived earlier in the day at Rome’s Ciampino Airport with his family, expressed gratitude for the warm reception and called Rome “a city of inspiration built by people who love humanity and God.”
The vice president said the talks focus on “relations between the two countries” as well as “trade negotiations, not only between Italy and the US, but also with the EU.”
“We will be discussing relations not only between Italy and the United States, but also broader trade negotiations with the European Union,” he said.
“We have some issues to deal with. I will update (Meloni) on the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, we had already talked about it in the past. We have a sense of positivity and optimism.”
Following their talks, Vance joined Meloni, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini for lunch, according to Italian media.
On social media platform X, Vance later said he “had a great meeting with Prime Minister Meloni and her team.”
Meloni also took to X to respond to Trump’s praise of their previous White House meeting, where he called her “fantastic.”
“Thank you, President Trump! The collaboration between Italy and the United States is based on common values and a long friendship,” she wrote.
“We will continue to work together to strengthen the bond between our peoples and to face global challenges with determination.”
Later in the day, the Catholic vice president visited St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican to attend the Good Friday Passion of the Lord Mass. Pope Francis, still recovering from a respiratory infection, was not present.
“I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday. He died so that we might live,” Vance posted on X.
He is also expected to meet with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin during his Rome visit. EFE
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