Italy's PM Visits Gulf Countries Amid Tensions, Energy Worries

Gulf Times

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia ‌Meloni.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia ‌Meloni flew to Saudi Arabia on Friday for a previously unannounced trip that will also include meetings in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported citing a government official.

Meloni travelled to Jeddah for the first visit by a European Union leader to Saudi Arabia since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran in February. She was due to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman later in the day, the official said.

The same source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the two-day visit was primarily aimed at demonstrating support for Gulf partners facing Iranian attacks and safeguarding Italy’s energy supplies, as the government grapples with rising fuel prices.

The official added that Italy would reaffirm the commitment of its major companies—including energy group Eni—to continue investing in the Gulf.

Italy is already supplying Gulf partners with defensive weapons to counter Iranian retaliatory strikes and remains open to considering further requests, the official said.

Prior to the conflict, around 10% of Italy’s gas consumption was met by Qatari liquefied natural gas, while Middle Eastern oil accounted for approximately 12% of Italy’s total oil imports last year.

Last week, Italy was informed that its Gulf supplier had extended a suspension of LNG deliveries due to the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with 10 cargoes expected to be withheld between April and mid-June.

Iranian attacks have also disrupted around 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, according to QatarEnergy’s chief executive and Minister of State for Energy Affairs, who spoke to Reuters last month.

As part of efforts to secure reliable energy supplies amid a deteriorating security environment, Meloni visited Algeria last week in a bid to obtain additional gas.

The official added that the prime minister is expected to visit Azerbaijan in the coming weeks, another key energy supplier, but was unable to include Kuwait in her Gulf itinerary due to security concerns.



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