Analysis: Bartosz Mirowski, Giuseppe Adamo; graphic design: Natalia Matiaszczyk
Introduction
Giorgia Meloni has led the Italian government since October 22, 2022. Following the strong electoral performance of her party and the victory of the center-right coalition in the parliamentary elections of September 2022, she became the first woman in Italian history to hold the office of Prime Minister. On March 2, 2025, she undertook her 100th international trip as head of government, participating in the London Summit on Ukraine, where she met with the UK Prime Minister and the President of Ukraine.
Her first foreign visit took place two weeks after assuming office, when she traveled to Brussels to meet with top European Union officials, including Ursula von der Leyen. Meloni’s tenure has been characterized by an active foreign policy, particularly within the EU framework, in dialogue with the United States, and in fostering cooperation with North African countries. Over a span of 850 days (November 3, 2022 – March 2, 2025), she undertook 100 international trips, encompassing EU-level meetings and all summits in which she participated.
More than half (56) of her visits were within Europe. A significant portion (16) trips–were to Brussels, primarily for European Council meetings and EU summits such as the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit and the EU-Western Balkans Summit. Among individual European countries, France (5) and the United Kingdom (4) were her most frequent destinations. She also visited Ukraine, Germany, and Poland twice each. Beyond EU institutions, Meloni’s most visited non-European country was the United States (7), including her participation in NATO summits. In 2025, she traveled two times to the U.S. at the invitation of Donald Trump–first to his residence in Mar-a-Lago and later to attend his presidential inauguration.
Consistent with her strategic approach, Meloni positioned herself as a key intermediary in relations between the EU and African nations. She was particularly active in fostering ties with Maghreb countries, having visited Libya (4), Tunisia (4), Egypt (3), and Algeria (1). These engagements intensified during the negotiation periods of bilateral agreements between the EU and Libya (January 2023), Tunisia (July 2023), and Egypt (March 2024), in which Meloni played a significant role.
Nineteen (19) of Meloni’s international visits were to Asian countries, with a particular focus on the Middle East. Among her key destinations were the United Arab Emirates (3), Qatar (1), Israel (1), and Jordan (1). Notably, her longest trip in the region was a four-day visit to China in July 2024, during which she met with President Xi Jinping.
Pragmatism and security – Meloni in European politics
Meloni had to measure herself against the image of the leader of a post-fascist grouping, who herself came from the circles of enthusiasts of Mussolini’s politics. Many commentators expected her to join the bloc of pro-Russian groups in the European Parliament. Aware of her party’s ideological ballast, she has pursued a very active foreign policy from the beginning.
In the European forum, she is driven primarily by pragmatism. She cooperates with other right-wing groups, having periods of good or very good relations with the President of the European Commission. While maintaining his Euroscepticism, Meloni treats the EU primarily as a platform for addressing issues important from Italy’s perspective. To this end, he seeks to work closely mainly with the administrations of France and the United Kingdom. He focuses primarily on the EU’s migration and energy policies. Playing an important role in the conclusion of bilateral agreements, she has become the face of EU cooperation with African countries.
As a result of her unwavering and proactive stance, in supporting Ukraine, Meloni has significantly increased her credibility in the eyes of her Western partners. Praised by EU leaders, Joe Biden, and Volodymyr Zelensky, she has been the voice of the anti-Putin coalition since the beginning of Russian aggression. For the moment, this has allowed her to effectively disassociate herself from the image of domestic coalition partners associated with pro-Russianism.
Meloni is trying to build a strong Italian position in NATO. She is not passive, she is an active initiator and an important voice in European discourse. She was one of the key figures in the process of convincing Viktor Orban to withdraw his veto of the aid package for Ukraine. In recent weeks, she has vociferously opposed the Franco-British proposal to send European troops to Ukraine. She herself has advocated extending Article 5 of NATO to Ukraine and including security guarantees in a peace treaty.
Meloni’s African strategy: energy, migration, partnerships
Giorgia Meloni’s visits to Africa since taking office as Italy’s Prime Minister reflect a strategic shift in Italy’s foreign policy, emphasizing economic partnerships, energy cooperation, and migration management. Her government has actively pursued stronger ties with African nations, seeking to position Italy as a key interlocutor between Europe and the continent.
A cornerstone of Meloni’s African outreach is the Mattei Plan, an initiative aimed at fostering mutually beneficial economic cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. This plan is designed to reduce Italy’s dependence on Russian gas by securing alternative energy supplies from African producers like Algeria, Libya, and Egypt. By deepening energy ties, Italy not only safeguards its own energy security but also positions itself as a bridge for European-African economic collaboration.
One of Meloni’s most significant visits was to Algeria in January 2023, where she strengthened Italy’s energy partnership with the country, now its primary gas supplier. This visit resulted in expanded energy agreements with Sonatrach, Algeria’s state energy firm, reinforcing Italy’s role as a key gas hub for Europe and reducing dependence on Russian energy.
Migration has been another crucial element of Meloni’s African engagements. She has sought agreements with African nations to curb irregular migration flows through investment and development aid, attempting to address root causes rather than just reinforcing border security. This aligns with Italy’s broader goal of reducing the number of migrant arrivals while presenting itself as a fair partner rather than a nation imposing restrictive policies.
In Tunisia, Meloni played a central role in negotiations with President Kais Saied, culminating in an agreement between Tunisia and the EU in July 2023. This pact focused on economic aid and stricter migration controls, aiming to curb the departure of migrants toward Italy.
In January 2024, Rome hosted the inaugural Italy–Africa Summit, bringing together representatives from 45 African countries and the African Union. Central to this summit was the introduction of the “Mattei Plan,” a strategic initiative named after Enrico Mattei, founder of the Italian energy company Eni. The plan, endowed with an initial investment of €5.5 billion, aims to stimulate economic development in Africa, focusing on energy cooperation, infrastructure, and education, thereby addressing root causes of migration
The summit was later on followed by more specific agreements regarding Italy’s agricultural cooperation with Africa in late 2024 and early 2025. On December 5, 2024, Italy’s state lender CDP and the African Development Bank signed a €400 million co-financing deal to support climate finance and sustainable agriculture across Africa. On January 17, 2025, Leonardo and BF partnered with the Italian government to launch high-tech agricultural projects in 14 African countries, investing €400 million in satellite monitoring and modern farming techniques. Meanwhile, Italy continued work on the Agro-Food Centre in Mozambique, a €38 million initiative aimed at boosting food security and local economies. These agreements mark Italy’s strategic push for sustainable development and economic collaboration with Africa.
Ultimately, Meloni’s African diplomacy marks a pragmatic approach, balancing Italy’s strategic needs with an effort to reposition the country as a serious geopolitical actor. The success of these initiatives will depend on whether Italy can move beyond transactional relationships and foster sustainable, mutually beneficial growth across the region.
Diplomacy between Biden and Trump
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has cultivated a calculated and strategic relationship with the United States, particularly during the presidency of Donald Trump, aiming to solidify Italy’s position within transatlantic alliances. Her diplomatic strategy reflects both ideological compatibility and pragmatic interests. Meloni also faces the challenge of balancing Italy’s role within the European Union, especially given the historically complex and often contentious relationship between Trump’s administration and EU institutions.
Meloni maintained notably warm relations with Donald Trump, illustrated by her attendance at his presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025, making her the only European leader present at the event. This decision demonstrated Italy’s intention to strengthen bilateral ties and placed Meloni prominently as a potential liaison between Europe and the United States. Their rapport is often described as based on mutual appreciation, partly due to shared conservative principles and policy outlooks.
However, Meloni’s diplomatic approach extends beyond ideological alignment, encompassing practical interactions with subsequent U.S. administrations. Under the Biden presidency, Meloni effectively maintained Italy’s commitment to NATO, supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. This dual capability highlights her pragmatic balancing act, ensuring Italy’s continued relevance and influence internationally.
The diplomatic case surrounding Cecilia Sala further illustrates Meloni’s international approach. Sala, a 29-year-old Italian journalist, was detained in Iran in December 2024 on allegations related to her reporting activities, coinciding closely with Italy’s arrest of Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi. Najafabadi, an Iranian engineer, was arrested in Italy due to allegations from U.S. authorities accusing him of supplying drone technology to Iran, which was allegedly utilized in attacks against American military forces in the Middle East. His arrest significantly heightened geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Meloni’s government undertook intense diplomatic negotiations for Sala’s release, reflecting an awareness of the situation’s broader geopolitical complexities. In early January 2025, Meloni met President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Although the official discussions focused on broader international tensions, including Middle Eastern affairs and support for Ukraine, Sala’s detention likely featured prominently, given the timing and context. Additionally, there were unconfirmed reports suggesting that the discussions at Mar-a-Lago might have involved preliminary conversations regarding a potential Starlink contract, aimed at enhancing Italy’s technological capabilities and communications infrastructure.
Sala’s release from Iran’s Evin Prison on January 8, 2025, followed shortly after Italy’s decision to free , a move broadly interpreted as a reciprocal gesture possibly coordinated with or approved by U.S. authorities. Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani personally received Sala upon her return to Italy. This incident highlights Meloni’s efforts to manage complex international issues through strategic diplomacy and negotiation.
Overall, Giorgia Meloni’s tenure reflects a nuanced diplomatic approach toward the United States, carefully balancing ideological alignments with Italy’s national interests. The handling of Cecilia Sala’s detention illustrates Meloni’s diplomatic pragmatism, resolving a sensitive international incident and maintaining Italy’s diplomatic standing.
Meloni’s diplomatic path involves significant challenges, such as aligning closely with the United States while supporting the EU’s strategic autonomy ambitions. However, this balancing act also positions Italy uniquely as a potential mediator between these sometimes divergent allies.
Summary
Giorgia Meloni, in less than two and a half years in office, has completed 100 foreign visits, highlighting her active engagement in international diplomacy. Her time in power has been defined by a pragmatic approach and a determination to solidify Italy’s influence within the European Union and globally, particularly in its relations with the United States, African countries, and NATO. Meloni has secured a prominent role within the EU, especially regarding migration policies, energy security, and support for Ukraine, earning her significant recognition from Western leaders.
Her strategy regarding Africa, represented by the Mattei Plan, focuses on fostering long-term partnerships, particularly in the energy and agricultural sectors. As a result, Italy has emerged as a key partner in energy supply from countries such as Algeria, Libya, and Egypt, while also actively engaging in addressing the root causes of migration. Meloni has played a crucial role in negotiating bilateral agreements with Maghreb countries and in organizing the Italy-Africa Summit in 2024.
The Italian Prime Minister has pursued a balanced policy toward the United States, maintaining strong relations with both Democratic and Republican administrations. She has developed close ties with Donald Trump and Elon Musk, as evidenced by her participation in the 2025 inauguration. At the same time, she has continued cooperation with Joe Biden’s administration, particularly in matters concerning support for Ukraine and NATO commitments. Her diplomatic approach reflects a pragmatic stance, enabling her to reconcile national interests with global challenges.
Recognized as one of the most influential figures on the European political stage, Meloni was ranked as the most powerful person in Europe according to Politico 28. This recognition underscores her ability to balance conservative views with the necessity of maintaining strong ties with the West while simultaneously enhancing Italy’s standing in international affairs.
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