Biden, Meloni to meet amid political issues
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden is set to host Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday for talks at the White House as his administration struggles to persuade House Republicans to pass legislation that would replenish aid to Ukraine, with both leaders facing political headwinds at home.
Biden has sought to assure European leaders that the US remains behind Ukraine even as he has been unable to win passage of a law that includes $60 billion for Ukraine in addition to $35 billion for Israel and Taiwan.
The legislation has passed the Senate, but Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to put it up for a vote in the House.
Ahead of Meloni’s visit, White House officials said they do not have good answers for allies about finding an end to the impasse with House Republicans and reopening the American spigot of aid to Kyiv that is badly needed.
“I can’t, again, provide a portal into the thinking of House Republicans right now, but it’s obviously having a demonstrable impact not just on our national security but the security of allies and partners around the world,” White House spokesman Olivia Dalton said.
Both leaders are grappling with war in the Middle East and Europe and looking to shore up their public standing. Biden, 81, has begun ramping for an election in November against former President Donald Trump, the likely GOP nominee.
Biden’s bid for a second term is complicated by the electorate’s concern about his age, over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war and mixed feelings about the state of the American economy.
Polls show that Meloni’s rightwing Brothers of Italy Party, which swept into power in 2022, still enjoys the most support in Italy, but it has seen a noticeable decline over the last year.
Her bloc faced a setback this week when the candidate she campaigned for was defeated in regional elections on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia.
Meloni’s popularity will be further tested with four more regional elections in 2024 and nationwide elections for Italy’s representatives to the European parliament set for June.
Her visit to Washington comes after she traveled to Kyiv last week to host a Group of Seven leaders meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Leaders of Belgium, Canada and the EU Commission joined Meloni in Kyiv, and Biden and other leaders joined by video. Italy assumed its one-year presidency of the G7 in January.
During her recent visit to Kyiv, Meloni reaffirmed Italian support for Ukraine and signed a security cooperation agreement for military and technical assistance through the end of the year.
There was anxiety in the Biden administration when Meloni rose to power as the head of Italy since the end of World War 2.
But the two have found common ground over the cause of Ukraine, and Biden heaped praise on Meloni and Italy for its efforts to back Kyiv.
The leaders’ agenda also is expected to cover efforts by the US, Egypt and Qatar to broker an extended ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and Italy’s priorities for a G7 presidency.