Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni waves to cameras as she leaves after swearing in at Quirinal presidential palace, on Saturday. AP

The first woman to head an Italian government, Meloni took the oath before President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, once home to popes and kings of Italy.

"Ready to work with NATO, that is more than a military alliance: a bulwark of common values we'll never stop standing for," she tweeted in response to a message of congratulations from its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

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And she was equally positive in her response to congratulations from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Italy is and will always be on the side of the brave people of Ukraine that is fighting for its freedom and for a rightful peace."

Her post-fascist Brothers of Italy party — eurosceptic and anti-immigration — won the September 25 legislative polls, but needed outside support to form a government.

Italy's new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attends the swearing-in ceremony in Rome, Italy, on Saturday. Reuters

But her pledge to work closely with NATO and back Ukraine contrasted with the stances of her partners in her coalition government, who are both considered close to Russia.

Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League, is a long-time fan of President Vladimir Putin. So, too, is former premier Silvio Berlusconi, leader of Forza Italia.

Berlusconi was this week heard in a leaked recording talking about his warm ties with Moscow and appearing to blame Russia's war in Ukraine on Zelensky.

Salvini as deputy

Meloni's appointment is an historic event for the eurozone's third largest economy and for Brothers of Italy, which has never been in government.

It won 26 percent of the vote last month, compared to eight and nine percent respectively for Forza Italia and the far-right League.

Gennaro Sangiugliano shakes hands with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Saturday. Reuters

Meloni's 24-strong cabinet, including six women, suggests a desire to reassure Italy's partners. She appointed Giancarlo Giorgetti as economy minister, who served under the previous government of Mario Draghi.

Giorgetti, a former minister of economic development, is considered one of the more moderate, pro-Europe members of Salvini's League.

Meloni also named ex-European Parliament president Antonio Tajani, of Forza Italia, as foreign minister and deputy prime minister.

Salvini will serve as deputy prime minister and minister of infrastructure and transport, which will likely disappoint Salvini.

He wanted the role of interior minister, a post he previously held between 2018 and 2019. That went instead to a technocrat, Rome prefect Matteo Piantedosi.

A formal ceremony for the handover of power from Draghi to Meloni will take place on Sunday before the premier leads the first cabinet meeting.

Agence France-Presse