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.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been placed under investigation over a government decision to release a Libyan police officer wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).