So, here’s an interesting twist: after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Trump’s resort in Florida, an Italian journalist who had been stuck in an Iranian prison suddenly got released. Coincidence? And does Meloni have some influence with the president-elect?
It looks like Meloni might have pulled off something pretty impressive on the diplomatic front.
Italy has generally maintained a decent relationship with Iran compared to other Western European nations. However, things took a turn last month when Tehran cautioned Rome against succumbing to the “political and hostile goals” of the U.S. This warning came after an Iranian engineer was arrested in Milan due to a U.S. Department of Justice warrant related to a drone strike in Jordan from the previous year.
Then, just a few days later, an Italian journalist ended up in an Iranian jail, widely believed to be a pawn in the negotiations. Cecilia Sala, a 29-year-old reporter for the conservative tabloid Il Foglio, was detained on December 19 for supposedly “violating the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” and she found herself in Evin Prison in Tehran.
But out of nowhere, on Wednesday, Iran decided to release Sala without any explanation, and she was soon on her way back to Rome.
Meloni’s office celebrated her return as a major win, stating that “thanks to intense work through diplomatic and intelligence channels, our compatriot has been freed by the Iranian authorities and is heading home.”
Her father, Renato Sala, couldn’t help but commend the Italian government for what he called an “exceptional job.” He mentioned that it felt like they were playing a complex game of chess involving multiple players.
It would be quite the coincidence if Meloni’s recent visit to meet with US President-elect Donald Trump at his Florida resort this past weekend was just happenstance. Although neither Trump nor Meloni shared details about their dinner conversation on Saturday, the Italian prime minister mentioned she left feeling “satisfied” and appreciated the “climate of reciprocity.”
This raises an interesting question: could their meeting have had anything to do with Salas’ release? If that’s the case, it seems like Meloni has Trump’s attention, positioning her as the one right-wing leader in Europe who firmly backs Ukraine and also has a spot at the table in the new American administration.
At just 47, Meloni has managed to win over Trump’s inner circle with her charm and unique blend of continental conservatism. How Trump’s team handled her concerns could provide valuable insight into his willingness for international collaboration.
So far, world leaders have been left scratching their heads about what the president-elect has in mind. Last Tuesday, during a press conference at his resort, Trump laid out some of his foreign policy ideas, which included suggestions like making Canada the 51st state, compelling Denmark to sell Greenland, reclaiming the Panama Canal by force, and renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
The reactions have been mixed—let’s just say European leaders haven’t exactly rolled out the welcome mat. Denmark’s response was particularly pointed, while others have shown their disapproval, especially regarding Elon Musk’s involvement in diplomatic affairs as Trump’s new sidekick.
French President Emmanuel Macron even cautioned that Musk might be stoking a new “international reactionary movement,” and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called him out for crossing a serious line after he suggested that a UK minister responsible for child safety should be jailed and labeled an apologist for rape.
In stark contrast, the dynamic between Trump, Musk, and Meloni seems almost affectionate. There were even whispers of a potential romance between the thrice-divorced SpaceX founder and the similarly single Meloni after they were seen together at an awards event in New York back in September. Musk’s mother had to step in to clarify that she and her son simply returned to their hotel together.
While Meloni isn’t Trump’s only right-wing ally in Europe—Hungarian leader Viktor Orban also enjoyed a visit to Mar-a-Lago last year—she stands out as the only one committed to continuing military support for Kyiv.
This brings another layer to Meloni’s situation: two years ago, Iran started supplying Russia with Shahed drones for use against Ukraine. Some foreign policy experts believe it might be time for the US and Israel to take action against Iran’s nuclear facilities since they’re implicated in Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
If there was ever a time when Meloni should have been cautious about asking the US to ease up on Iran, this was definitely not it. Given his previous comments on Tehran’s involvement in attacks against Israel, it would be pretty surprising if Trump were to entertain such a request once he’s back in the Oval Office later this month.
And yet, there she was at Mar-a-Lago, enjoying dinner with her admirers while facing this tricky situation.
Mohammad Abedini was taken into custody at Milan’s Malpensa airport on December 16. The US wants him extradited, accusing him of providing drone technology to Iran that was used in a January 2024 attack in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers. Iran’s foreign ministry slammed Italy’s actions as “illegal,” claiming it was done at the behest of the US to hold Iranian nationals hostage worldwide.
After their weekend meeting in Florida, there was no talk about the situation with Iran or any serious policy discussions. Trump simply stated, “We’re just having dinner tonight,” and praised Meloni for making waves in Europe.
Meloni herself kept it brief, saying, “It went well. I’m more than satisfied. We are ready to work together in a constructive way, within a climate of reciprocity.”
It’s important to remember that for the next couple of weeks, Joe Biden is still the President, not Donald Trump. Biden’s Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is set to meet with Meloni in Rome later this week during the president’s last European trip and his audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican. (Biden was supposed to be part of this meeting but decided to stay back due to the emergency situation in Los Angeles.)
Meanwhile, the wheels of justice in Italy move slowly. Abedini’s request for house arrest will be reviewed by Milan’s court of appeals on January 15, as reported by Turin-based La Stampa. This means his extradition hearing will likely fall under Trump’s administration.
If the Italian courts allow him house arrest or deny the US extradition request, it could send a clear signal to left-leaning European leaders about where to direct their messages to the incoming US president.