Melodi diplomacy: Italian PM Giorgia Meloni greets US aide with 'namaste'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed U.S. Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley with a traditional Indian “namaste” gesture during her arrival at a multilateral summit in the United States. Meloni, who has used the greeting on earlier occasions — including the G7 in Italy — once again drew attention with the folded-hands gesture.

The meeting brought together U.S. President Donald Trump, European Union leaders, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Meloni’s friendly rapport with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also become a talking point in recent years. Their interactions, often shared through selfies and videos at global summits, sparked the viral hashtag #Melodi. At COP28 in Dubai, Meloni posted a photo with Modi captioned “Good friends at COP28, #Melodi,” reflecting the warmth of their relationship. Their chemistry was equally visible at the G20 summit in India, underscoring growing ties between Italy and India in areas such as sustainability, energy, and industry.


At the U.S. summit, Meloni reiterated her support for Ukraine, declaring: “If we want to reach peace and if we want to guarantee justice, we have to do it united. We are on the side of Ukraine.”

CNN noted that her presence alongside leaders across the ideological spectrum underscored a rare moment of unity. Meloni also acknowledged a shift in Moscow’s stance, remarking: “It is an important day — a new phase. After three years without any sign of willingness for dialogue from the Russian side, something is changing, thanks to you.”