That's some VERY close political co-operation! Rishi Sunak and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni look delighted to get touchy-feely as they hug on Prime Minister's trip to Rome

Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni have been getting very friendly with each other during a meeting in Rome today. 

The Prime Minister and his Italian counterpart were delighted to get touchy-feely with one another as they met in the country's capital, which is known for being synonymous with romance, for an event organised by Ms Meloni's right-wing party. 

The pair have appeared close in previous meetings and were again pictured getting intimate as they shared a warm embrace and a peck on the cheek multiple times during their meeting. 

Ms Meloni, separated from her partner Viviana Guglielmi, 46, earlier this year after he made a number of sleazy comments towards another woman. 

Mr Sunak, who shares two daughters Krishna, 11, and Anoushka, 10, with his wife Akshata Murty, has developed a close partnership with Ms Meloni over their shared desire for tougher action on migrants in Europe. 

It come as Sunak said today that illegal migrants will overwhelm Britain unless global refugee laws change. 

The PM warned failing to tackle the issue would 'destroy the public's faith' in politicians and governments. 

He told the gathering of Italian conservatives and right-wingers that 'enemies' want to use migration as a 'weapon' and are 'deliberately driving people to our shores to try to destabilise our society'.

He added: 'If we do not tackle this problem, the numbers will only grow. It will overwhelm our countries and our capacity to help those who actually need our help the most.

'If that requires us to update our laws and lead an international conversation to amend the post-war frameworks around asylum, then we must do that.

'Because if we don't fix this problem now, the boats will keep coming and more lives will be lost at sea.'

While in Rome on the one-day trip, Mr Sunak also met Ms Meloni and Albania's prime minister Edi Rama for talks on illegal migration.

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk was also present at the Atreju event.

Mr Sunak and Ms Meloni embraced as Mr Sunak prime minister left the stage, to loud applause from the audience.

Touching on their shared admiration of long-serving Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher, he said 'I can only guess what first attracted Giorgia to the strong female leader who was prepared to challenge the consensus, take on stale thinking and revive her country both domestically and on the international stage.'

He had warm praise for Ms Meloni, at whose Brothers of Italy annual Atreju event he was speaking.