Pope’s funeral may set stage for long-awaited Brussels-Washington talks

The European Commission is considering the possibility of arranging an informal meeting between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump during their upcoming visit to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.

The prospect of such a meeting, which would mark the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders, remains under discussion, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Speaking at a press briefing in Brussels, EC spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed that preparations are being explored, though no final decision has been made. “We are studying the possibility of a meeting, but nothing has been confirmed yet,” Pinho stated.

“The visit to Rome is for the funeral of Pope Francis. But if other opportunities present themselves on the margins of the funeral, they will of course be taken.”

At the same time, European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho declined to answer questions from journalists regarding whether the Commission had formally submitted a request for a bilateral meeting between President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump.

Notably, President Trump has not held a meeting with the head of the European Commission since assuming office, underscoring the current diplomatic distance between Brussels and Washington.

Compounding the situation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already cancelled two scheduled meetings with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas. Despite travelling to Washington on both occasions specifically for these engagements, Kallas was unable to secure the talks. Secretary Rubio cited “scheduling mismatches” as the reason for the cancellations, though the repeated postponements have raised questions in diplomatic circles about the current state of transatlantic coordination.

The potential meeting comes at a time of heightened transatlantic tensions, particularly surrounding recent divergences in US and EU positions on key geopolitical issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and shifting trade dynamics. While the funeral of Pope Francis will serve as the official occasion for the leaders’ presence in Rome, diplomatic observers suggest that even a brief discussion between von der Leyen and Trump could prove pivotal in easing recent strains or opening a channel for more structured dialogue moving forward.

By Vafa Guliyeva