Surrounded by American flags, United States president-elect Donald Trump read out a list of tech executives who had gathered at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to meet with him after winning the election.
"Everybody wants to be friends with me," Trump told reporters in December.
Before taking office on January 20, Trump has also met with leaders of European allies, whom he hopes will be ready for his second presidential term.
It is common for foreign leaders to seek the attention of an American president. But Trump has set aside the long-standing habit of Washington's foreign policy, and now there are fears that the challenges are greater this time.
Now other European leaders may become Trump's closest allies. But even they may realize that, sometimes, Washington has different interests.
Viktor Orban
Viktor Orbán was the first European leader to visit Trump in Florida after the November 5 election.
The Hungarian prime minister has long cultivated close ties with Trump and was also the first European leader to support his 2016 presidential campaign.
This is a relationship based on ideological affinity and personal chemistry. Whether that translates into practical favors is another matter. Trump has threatened to impose high tariffs on goods from the European Union.
Tariffs on car imports could hurt Hungary, where carmakers account for about 12 percent of all manufacturing jobs. That includes Chinese companies, a political issue for Trump.
But for Orban, from a country of 10 million people, special ties with the leader of the world's most powerful nation are clearly a matter of prestige, at a time when he faces political challenges at home.
Officials in Budapest told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Hungarian Service that Trump has also sought Orban's views on ending Russia's nearly three-year war in Ukraine in a series of phone calls since his victory in the US election.
Orban has close relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has attempted to present himself as a statesman who can facilitate a peace agreement.
"Of course, this does not mean that Hungary will be seriously given a role in the peace talks for Ukraine," said political analyst Botond Feledy.
"But I can imagine that Viktor Orbán will accept some kind of symbolic gesture. Let's say there will be a round of negotiations in Budapest as well," he added.
Giorgia Meloni
In January, Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, visited Trump in Florida.
If there were a race to see Trump first, Meloni would come in second — but she would likely be a more influential partner than Orban. While the Hungarian leader is largely isolated in the EU, Meloni has plenty of connections.
Many in the 27-member bloc hope she can be Trump's "whisperer," pushing the president to make different decisions on key issues. Ukraine is among the main ones, as Meloni has been a staunch supporter of Kiev. Tariffs are another issue.
Like Orbán, Meloni is ideologically close to Trump, sharing his tough stance on immigration. Trump called her a "fantastic woman" who "has amazed Europe."
But unlike Hungary, Italy falls short of NATO's target of 2 percent of GDP for defense spending, reaching only 1.49 percent by 2024, according to estimates. If Meloni pushes Trump to continue supporting Ukraine, he could ask it to spend more on defense.
"Italy has been one of the countries that has benefited greatly from, let's say, the American shield over Europe," said Olivier Costa of Sciences Po in Paris.
Costa also highlighted potential US tariffs as an issue where interests could clash.
"Who is going to drink all the French and Italian wines? Who is going to buy all those bags? The impact on the economy would be huge," he stressed.
Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron also made sure to meet Trump early, welcoming him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in December.
It was an early attempt to influence Trump's stance on Ukraine, but there is no evidence so far that the meeting had any impact. Trump has threatened to cut aid to Ukraine and promised to end the war quickly, though he has not said how he would achieve that.
Macron is weakened in France, as he faces an ongoing political crisis after losing his parliamentary majority in elections. His fierce critic and potential successor, Marine Le Pen, is a politician closer to Trump's type.
Donald Trump listens to French President Emmanuel Macron as he speaks to him during the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, December 2024.
Donald Trump listens to French President Emmanuel Macron as he speaks to him during the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, December 2024.
"Trump is very angry with everyone who was happy when he was defeated by Biden. And, I think he really wants to make all those people pay for this, Von der Leyen, Scholz, Macron and all the others. He's back, a bit like in a movie, Trump 2," Costa said.
But Macron carries weight as the leader of a nuclear-armed nation, with the most powerful army in the EU and a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Like Trump, he has sought to keep the channels of communication with Putin open. If peace talks in Ukraine begin, he is expected to do his best to get involved.
Keir Starmer
When Trump first came to power in 2016, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's predecessor, Theresa May, rushed across the Atlantic to be the first visitor to the White House.
This is a privilege that British prime ministers traditionally secure, although it is unclear whether this will happen this time.
Starmer is Trump's polar opposite politically. He is a moderate social democrat, while billionaire Trump supporter Elon Musk has been mocking him for weeks.
Britain's international weight is perhaps limited by BREXIT, but it still holds some of the same military and diplomatic cards that France does.
Starmer's Foreign Secretary, Daniel Lammy, has spent months working to build a personal relationship with the deputy leader-elect, JD Vance, and said the two have found common ground in their Christian and working-class origins.
Starmer will also hope that Trump's British roots - his mother was from Scotland - may play a role.
"Starmer and the Labour Party have long been trying to build connections with the Trump world and now with the incoming Trump administration," said Ian Bond of the Center for European Reform.
"I think the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the next ambassador can be seen in that light. Someone who is, in a way, a very sophisticated political operator. Will it work? They are not natural allies on many issues. But also, it seems that Trump has a certain weakness for the United Kingdom," he said.
Olaf Scholz
Facing elections in February, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is unlikely to last long in office.
His predecessor, Angela Merkel, had a difficult time with Trump, showing displeasure at his side, while he, on one occasion, seemed to ignore her.
His potential successor, Friedrich Merz, may also find it difficult. His election manifesto calls for defense spending of “at least” 2 percent of GDP – a figure unlikely to arouse enthusiasm in Washington, as Germany already spends that much.
Perhaps most importantly, Germany has a $60 billion trade surplus with the United States, which Trump has repeatedly criticized.
Musk has also become involved in the German political scene, supporting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with which Merz has refused to cooperate.
However, Trump has not backed these comments and Germany remains an important partner.
Merz has shown consistency, saying the EU should make a new attempt at a free trade agreement with Washington. The last such attempt was abandoned during Trump's first term./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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