Meloni urges Europe to build its own defence as US signals disengagement
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni used the closing address of her party’s annual Atreju rally in Rome to call on Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence, citing signals from US President Donald Trump that Washington intends to reduce its security role on the continent.
Speaking at Castel Sant’Angelo on Sunday, Meloni argued that Europe can no longer rely on the United States as it has done for decades. She said Trump’s position had made it clear that Europeans must organise their own defence, stressing that long-standing dependence on US protection had come at a cost. True freedom, she said, requires Europe to invest in its own security and strategic autonomy.
Her remarks come at a time of strained relations between the European Union and the Trump administration, and renewed debate over Europe’s military preparedness. Meloni called for a stronger and more credible European defence structure, capable of engaging with global powers on equal footing, and reiterated her long-standing support for closer defence cooperation within Europe.
The rally also served as a show of unity for Italy’s governing coalition. Deputy prime ministers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, along with Maurizio Lupi, addressed supporters earlier in the day, pledging solidarity ahead of the 2027 general election. Tajani said Europe’s centre-right must work together to protect the continent’s industrial and agricultural interests, while signalling opposition to the EU’s planned ban on non-electric cars.
