Italian PM Giorgia Meloni Balances Risky Alliances with Trump and Musk

Meloni's visit to Mar-a-Lago highlights her strategic ties with Trump and Musk, raising both opportunities and political challenges.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, securing valuable face time amidst competition from other global leaders.
Her relationship with Elon Musk has facilitated advanced talks between Italy and SpaceX for secure telecommunications, sparking domestic political criticism over transparency and due process.
Meloni's balancing act involves maintaining ties with Trump and Musk while navigating European Union dynamics and her own party's ideological tensions.
The visit underscores Meloni's efforts to position herself as a key European interlocutor with the MAGA-influenced U.S. administration, contrasting with the struggles of other EU leaders to establish similar connections.
Critics warn that Meloni's close ties to populist figures like Trump and Musk risk alienating her domestic and international allies, while complicating her governance and policy goals.