Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy has gone to Mar-a-Lago to go to President-elect Donald J. Trump for an off-the-cuff assembly being held on Saturday, three folks aware of the journey mentioned.
The journey comes just some days earlier than Ms. Meloni is ready to welcome President Biden in Rome for an official go to to Italy and the Vatican on Jan. 9 to 12.
Ms. Meloni and Mr. Trump have expressed mutual appreciation previously, and her journey is without doubt one of the first few visits by a international chief to the president-elect’s property in Florida since his election. The assembly reinforces the hopes of Ms. Meloni’s supporters that the conservative Italian prime minister will change into Mr. Trump’s go-to ally in Europe.
A lot of that position would contain mediating tensions between different European leaders and Mr. Trump, who has threatened to begin a commerce struggle with the continent in addition to to cut back American backing for some NATO nations and for Ukraine in its struggle with Russia.
The agenda of the assembly was unclear on Saturday night time, however observers anticipated the 2 leaders would talk about these points.
One other doable subject, in response to observers, is the detention in Iran of a outstanding Italian reporter, Cecilia Sala. It occurred a number of days after Italy arrested, on the request of the USA, an Iranian suspected of offering drone elements to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Iran has routinely detained foreigners and twin residents to commerce them for cash and other people.
One particular person briefed on the assembly mentioned Ms. Meloni had pressed aggressively for it.
She additionally has a superb relationship with Elon Musk, which her supporters hope will bolster her worldwide standing as soon as Mr. Trump turns into president.
Since being elected, Mr. Trump has welcomed to Mar-a-Lago Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, a champion of “intolerant democracy,” in addition to Argentina’s firebrand right-wing president, Javier Milei. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada turned the primary Group of Seven chief to go to Mr. Trump in Florida for the reason that election, after a risk to impose tariffs on Canada.
Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.
