Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is aiming for a central leadership role in Europe as President-elect Donald Trump prepares his return to the White House on January Meloni announced on Thursday in Rome that she plans to attend Trump's inauguration.

The Italian prime minister’s apparent closeness with the US president-elect could help avert a looming trade war.

Lago, Trump described Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a “fantastic woman… she’s really taken Europe by storm.”

Meloni stressed that national interest was “the only lens” through which she judged such potential contracts with SpaceX, the owner of the satellite system Starlink.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended Elon Musk's growing involvement in politics on Thursday and said she had never discussed with him a potential deal to supply secure communications to Italy.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has dismissed claims of striking a deal with Musk, with whom she has developed a cordial relationship.