European leaders hope that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni can persuade U.S. President Donald Trump not to impose tariffs on the EU and to continue supporting Ukraine, according to the Financial Times on Thursday.

Giorgia Meloni’s presence at Donald Trump’s inauguration aimed to reinforce her status as a privileged interlocutor with the new US administration. But this position carries risks for Italy and the EU.

Meloni’s critics have accused her government of releasing Njeem to protect an agreement with Libya to block the departure of migrants crossing the Mediterranean. Ending illegal migration to Italy has been the main pillar of Meloni’s legislative agenda since she came to power in 2022.