Staff Reports
It seems the political landscape in Europe is about to shake things up, especially now that Donald Trump is on the cusp of reclaiming the White House. As Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently huddled together in Rome, handsome doses of tension could be felt regarding the future of both Ukraine and Israel. They may be best buddies in the conservative club, but their disagreements on foreign policy reveal that even the closest allies can find room for contention when the big guy—Trump—comes back to power.
Orban and Meloni may bond over their shared hatred of mass migration and their affection for maintaining national sovereignty within the EU, but when it comes to Ukraine, they’re about as far apart as a couple of tourists lost in Rome without GPS. Meloni has gone the extra mile to ensure Italy stands firmly behind Ukraine, providing military and economic aid while playing the role of Europe’s cheerleader to ensure the ongoing support for Kyiv. Meanwhile, Orban has taken to the sidelines, cozying up to Russia and questioning the need for European nations to throw their support behind Ukraine. If that’s not a recipe for a showdown between two powerful leaders, it’s hard to say what is.
On the issue of Israel, the schism only widens. Meloni isn’t shy about declaring support for Israel, even going so far as to label certain actions as “unacceptable.” This comes after some unfortunate events involving Italian peacekeepers, leading to an international arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But Orban, the populist maverick, has taken a different tack, outright rejecting the warrant and inviting Netanyahu to Hungary. Clearly, Orban’s not one for backing down from a fight when the chips are down, and he’s designed quite the diplomatic dance to maintain his footing with Israel.
Trump, top European backers Meloni, Orban headed for reckoning on what to do about Israel, Ukraine https://t.co/ow1GS8vLO5 via @JustTheNews
— Arthur Rosenfield (@FutureThinkNYC) December 11, 2024
With Trump poised to resume his role as the sharpest tongue in D.C., these differences in opinion may not be able to stick around for long. Rumblings in the European press suggest there’s a groundswell of worry among European leaders about how they’ll respond to Trump’s directives, especially regarding their distinct takes on geopolitical issues. Future exchanges might resemble a tense family dinner where Dad’s back home, and everyone’s trying to keep the peace while still making their views known.
As Trump remains Defcon 1 with his hot takes on Israel’s conflict with Hamas and expressing a desire to see peace restored with Ukraine, one can only imagine his response when these two European leaders come knocking. The European Union’s skepticism could end up being a powerful ally in Trump’s arsenal against his critics at home. With populist leaders like Meloni and Orban championing a less-than-cooperative EU approach, that could give Trump the leverage he needs to push for American interests across the globe. As the proverbial political chess game gets underway, it will be fascinating to see which knight takes the lead and how the pieces move in this unfolding drama.
