Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged for Western unity, a strong American-European partnership, and continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression during a video address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington.
“Europe is far from being lost, and it will never be lost,” Meloni declared, speaking to one of the world’s largest and most influential conservative gatherings.
She expressed confidence in U.S. President Donald Trump, also a speaker at the conference, and dismissed hopes that Trump might distance himself from the West. “Our opponents hope President Trump will step away from us, but knowing him as a strong and effective leader, I bet those who hope for division will be proven wrong,” Meloni stated.
Balancing conservative rhetoric with broader geopolitical concerns, Meloni criticized left-wing liberalism, elites, “woke” ideology, the “cancel culture,” and traditional media, while emphasizing the need for Western nations to unite against both internal and external threats.
The Italian leader also praised U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s recent speech at the Munich Security Conference, where Vance sharply criticized European allies for restricting freedom of speech and undermining democracy. Meloni agreed with Vance’s statement: “Before talking about security, we must know what we are defending.”
Meloni further warned of the potential for a trade war between the U.S. and Europe, stressing the interdependence of their economies and the risks of playing into the hands of other major powers.
Reflecting on Ukraine’s three-year fight against Russia’s invasion, Meloni said, “Happiness depends on freedom, and freedom depends on courage.” She called for continued cooperation to achieve a fair and lasting peace, which she believes can only be built through strong leadership—a leadership that she claimed Trump represents.
Recently, Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” for canceling elections due to the war.
