From Modi to Milei, Meloni at the G20 in Brazil to weave her web with the pro-Trump crowd

It will be one of the last international summits Giorgia Meloni will attend in the dual role of premier and G7 president. But this G20 in Rio de Janeiro on 18-19 November is also the first summit to bring together the world's top leaders since Donald Trump's victory.

It will therefore also be an opportunity for Meloni to take stock with her allies, starting with those with whom there is greater harmony, such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among the first to congratulate the tycoon on his return to the White House. With Modi the premier has cultivated a privileged relationship from the very beginning of her arrival at Palazzo Chigi. The same goes for Argentine President Javier Milei, who had already been a guest in Rome last February and then in July at the G7 summit in Borgo Egnazia. Now it is Meloni's turn, whom Milei has invited for an official visit to Buenos Aires immediately after the conclusion of the summit of world leaders. The aim is certainly to strengthen commercial but also political relations.

Trump's victory is bound to weigh heavily and substantially alter the balances that have dominated in recent years and even during the Republican's first term in office. Now the scenario is much more uncertain. Representing the US at this G20 is still Joe Biden's administration. But who knows what the newly appointed US Health Secretary, Robert Kennedy, known for his anti-scientific and no-vax positions, might say about one of the key initiatives proposed by the Brazilian presidency: the creation and funding within the organisation of an international alliance for the local and regional production of vaccines and medicines, to help countries that have historically had difficulty accessing these immunisers.

The transition phase for the handover and Trump's official entry into the White House next January will serve as an attempt to take the measure of the start of this new course in Meloni as well. Something has actually already been seen. Elon Musk's harsh statements against the Italian judges, the premier's (embarrassed) silence broken by Head of State Sergio Mattarella's stance in defence of the country's sovereignty. Meloni is cautious. Despite the fact that Trump is a man of the right and therefore ideologically close, the unpredictability of the new president, but above all his stances on a tightening of duties on goods coming from Europe and on the increase in defence spending by NATO countries (and therefore also Italy) do not allow even the leader of the right wing to sleep soundly over the tycoon's victory.