Meloni visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to "ensure Italy receives necessary supplies"

“Like other European countries, we are already helping the Gulf nations defend themselves from Iranian attacks. We do so clearly because they are strategic countries for our interests. They are friendly countries, but above all, we do it to protect the tens of thousands of Italians present in the region. The mission is a gesture of solidarity towards friendly nations, but its clear objective is also to guarantee Italy the energy supplies it needs.” This was stated by the Prime Minister. Giorgia melon, Regarding her mission to the Gulf countries, in an interview with Tg1, airing this evening. “I had already been in Algeria to secure gas, today I’m in the Gulf to discuss oil in particular: these countries provide about 15 percent of Italy’s oil,” the prime minister continued.

“I continue to believe that, on a geopolitical level, Europe has little to gain from a rift with the United States, but our job is above all to defend our national interests, and when we disagree, we must say so, and this time we disagree,” Meloni said regarding Italy’s relations with the United States after the events in Sigonella.

“Obviously, the international crisis is already having and will continue to have concrete negative effects on energy and the Italian economy, and the government is monitoring them all and intends to intervene with all possible tools to protect our nation’s families and businesses. We’ve done this today with an additional €500 million earmarked to extend the €0,25 fuel price cut until May 1st. We’ve also expanded the previous measure with provisions to benefit farmers and exporters,” he explained. “The opposition is clearly doing its job, but it also finds itself in the fortunate position of being able to criticize from the comfort of its couch, because others are the ones who need to solve the problems, and we are. We’d perhaps expect a slightly more constructive attitude,” he added.

Regarding the shakeups within the government following the referendum result on justice reform, the resignations of Delmastro and Santanchè, and the Piantedosi case, the prime minister said: “The government is moving forward. I said so a minute after the referendum result. The next day we were at work because we have no time to waste. We have no time to waste, especially at a time like this. I can say that the reenactments of resignations and reshuffles are entertaining, but to me, they’re just palace tricks that don’t interest anyone. Whoever wants to, can keep talking about it; in the meantime, we’ll continue doing our job for the good of this nation.”

Meloni’s mission: energy, security, and war in Iran at the center

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s mission to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates was born with a clear objective: to strengthen political dialogue with regional partners at a time of significant international instability and to examine how Italy can concretely contribute to managing a crisis that intertwines security, energy, and geopolitical balances.

A trip that, according to Italian sources, is structured along three strategic lines—energy security, protection of trade routes, and regional stability—and which takes on particular political significance given the context in which it takes place. Arriving in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Meloni will meet with the Crown Prince this evening. Mohammed bin Salman, before continuing tomorrow to Qatar. The mission, Italian sources explain, is primarily a “proximity” one: a choice aimed at consolidating relations built over recent months, thanks in part to the invitation received by the Prime Minister just four months ago to participate as a special guest at the 46th Gulf Cooperation Council summit. This physical presence was deemed necessary despite the deteriorating security situation in the area, precisely to send a direct political signal to regional interlocutors. In this context, it is emphasized that Meloni is the first European and NATO leader to visit the region at this stage.

The first issue on the table is energy security. The Gulf region represents a significant share of Italy’s supplies, with approximately 15 percent of its oil and 10 percent of its gas coming from these countries. The visit is part of a broader strategy of source diversification, already launched with the recent mission to Algeria and set to continue in the coming weeks in Azerbaijan. According to Italian sources, the objective is twofold: on the one hand, to ensure continuity of supplies and investments, and on the other, to understand, together with regional partners, how to manage a situation marked by a war that risks profoundly impacting global energy balances. The issue is also linked to food security, another shared concern, given that many Gulf countries are heavily dependent on imports.

The second priority concerns the security of trade routes and the protection of exports. Trade between Italy and the Gulf countries is worth approximately €30 billion, of which over €20 billion is represented by Italian exports. In a context of military tensions and the risk of escalation, the protection of maritime traffic becomes crucial. Italian sources emphasize the need to reassure businesses and ensure the continuity of trade, a key element for economic stability. The third priority is regional security, which is intertwined with the humanitarian consequences of ongoing conflicts. The situation in Lebanon—with approximately one million displaced persons—is a key focus, especially in relation to potential migratory movements in the event of further deterioration. Added to this is the issue of requests for military cooperation: Italian sources confirm ongoing discussions and active supplies, specifying that these are exclusively for defensive materials. Any further requests will be evaluated, but—it is reiterated—Italy is ready to do its part in adhering to this approach.

The mission, however, remains focused on the crisis surrounding the war in Iran. The scheduled meetings will present the Prime Minister with interlocutors whose positions may not always converge, but who share—according to Italian sources—a desire to maintain open channels of dialogue. Structured bilateral negotiations are currently lacking, but there is evidence of a willingness to work together with all regional actors to contain the escalation. In this context, Meloni aims to utilize even small-scale discussions to gain a direct understanding of the differing positions. A significant political element of the mission is Italy’s proposal to strengthen coordination between the Gulf countries and the G7. The idea, Italian sources report, is to build a more structured dialogue between the two regions, aligning their agendas and identifying a possible meeting point that will allow them to jointly address key critical issues, from energy security to food security to geopolitical stability.

The mission’s focus, it is emphasized, is not on making requests but on offering collaboration. The primary objective is to understand the partners’ needs and assess how Italy can contribute at a stage of the war that requires rapid and coordinated decisions. This approach also aims to strengthen Rome’s role as a credible and reliable partner in the region. The secrecy surrounding the trip’s preparations was dictated solely by security concerns. At the same time, according to Italian sources, drone and missile attacks hit the United Arab Emirates, confirming the level of risk in the area. For this very reason, a possible stop in Kuwait, initially planned but deemed impracticable, was canceled. The Gulf mission, along with stops in Algeria and Azerbaijan, is therefore part of a broader strategy aimed at “closing the loop” on the energy and geopolitical fronts. But, above all, it represents—according to Italian sources—an attempt to position Italy at the center of a network of relations that, in a context of growing instability, becomes crucial for protecting national interests and contributing to international security.

Meloni visits Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to “ensure Italy receives necessary supplies”

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