Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday, officials from her office said on Friday, in a trip that should further strengthen her ties with the U.S. leader. Meloni paid a flying visit to Trump earlier this month at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, winning praise from the incoming president, who called her "a fantastic woman."

Trump has broken with precedent and invited several foreign leaders to the inauguration ceremony. Historically, they have not attended due to security concerns and have sent diplomats in their stead. Meloni's supporters hope the conservative Italian leader will have privileged access to Trump over the next four years and become a bridge between Washington and Europe.