Practice political tightrope walking and trying to please friends, even the most controversial, without being harmed in the effort, is a strategy with proven returns but with dangers. This is, in essence, the diagnosis of the delicate moment that the Italian prime minister is going through, Giorgia Meloniwhose rejection of the Israeli-American war operation against Iran is taking its tollespecially in US circles. Starting with Steve Bannon and his acolytes.
The populist ideologue, central figure of the MAGA movement and former advisor to Donald Trump has been especially merciless with the Italian. As he said in an interview published this Wednesday by the Italian newspaper The RepublicMeloni can no longer be considered “a bridge” between those who rule today in Washington and European political power. She has “backed down”, added Bannon, who until recently spoke of the Italian as “one of us”, but who in recent months has criticized on more than one occasion.
Bannon spoke in this way when asked about Meloni’s decision to deny Italy’s support for an international flotilla with which Trump intends to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by forceclosed by Iran. “This demonstrates exactly what I have been saying for a long time, in the face of a media story that is absolutely false: Meloni is not a bridge for the US with the establishment European politician,” he stated.
Blackmail
With this, Bannon has also spoken about the consequences that, in his opinion, will result from the decision of the Italian leader and her European colleagues to reject Trump’s requests en bloc. “This behavior will have enormous implications for Ukraine. After NATO also made fun of us, I don’t see how the American people can support new funds or security guarantees,” he added. “It would be good to inform Bannon that we are not vassals“, they have summarized in the Italian press.
However, Bannon’s anger has not yet had a response from Meloni, who is currently busier with the imminent (this Sunday and Monday) referendum on the judiciary and with protecting the interests of Italy (energy, above all) and the Italian military deployed in the Middle East. Nor has Trump directly attacked the Italian as he has done with other European leaders. But the images of the Italian Prime Minister as only guest from an EU country at the inauguration of republican presidentor the meetings between the two at Mar-a-Lago, those are now a bit left more faded.
The unknown perhaps is what consequences this may have on the Italian internal board, where the leader of the League, Matteo Salvinistill maintains a good relationship with Bannon.
Subscribe to continue reading
