Meloni distances herself from Merz criticism of MAGA movement

Tuesday 17 February 2026 - 10:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Meloni distances herself from Merz criticism of MAGA movement

The emerging Rome Berlin axis in European politics is facing its first strain after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly broke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over his criticism of the American MAGA movement, exposing diverging views on transatlantic relations only weeks after the two leaders pledged closer cooperation.

Speaking to Corriere della Sera and other Italian newspapers on February 15 as she returned from the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Meloni said she did not agree with Merz’s remarks targeting MAGA political culture. While she endorsed his call for Europe to strengthen its security capabilities and build a stronger European pillar within NATO, she declined to echo his broader critique of American political dynamics.

Merz had drawn a sharp line during the Munich Security Conference, where he addressed diplomats and defense officials with pointed comments about the direction of US politics. “The culture war of the MAGA movement is not ours,” the German chancellor said, stressing that in Germany freedom of expression has limits when it conflicts with human dignity and the country’s constitutional order. He also rejected tariffs and protectionism, reaffirming Germany’s commitment to free trade.

The German leader warned that a “deep rift” had opened between Europe and the United States, referencing controversial remarks made a year earlier at the same forum by US Vice President JD Vance. Merz called for renewed transatlantic ties but insisted that Europe could not simply mirror the political trajectory of the United States.

Meloni’s response highlights a more cautious approach. Although she supports deeper European defense integration, she has consistently argued that framing relations as a choice between Washington and Brussels is misguided. She has emphasized the importance of Western unity and maintained that effective transatlantic cooperation requires continued American leadership.

The disagreement is notable given the apparent alignment displayed during a January 23 summit in Rome, where Meloni and Merz signed a German Italian action plan and declared their countries “closer than ever.” The agreement covered security, defense, migration and competitiveness, and analysts quickly dubbed the partnership “Merzoni,” portraying it as a new driving force within the European Union.

Meloni’s absence from the Munich conference, where she had been scheduled to speak immediately after Merz, drew attention. Italian media, including La Repubblica, suggested that her trip to Africa allowed her to sidestep potential discomfort over the German chancellor’s remarks while preserving her message of Western cohesion.

The episode underscores Meloni’s delicate position as one of the few European leaders seen as maintaining a warm relationship with President Donald Trump. Her stance reflects an effort to balance Italy’s commitment to European integration with the political and strategic value she places on close ties with Washington.

Merz, by contrast, appears more willing to articulate a distinctly European path, even if that involves publicly distancing himself from political currents in the United States. The divergence does not signal a rupture in German Italian cooperation, but it illustrates the nuanced differences shaping Europe’s debate over autonomy, alliance management and the future of transatlantic relations.