Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is on a visit to the Gulf, where she will meet the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar to discuss the European nation's energy security, an Italian government official said.
During the surprise two-day visit, which began in Saudi Arabia on Friday, Ms Meloni will also offer support to the Gulf countries, which have been targeted by Iran in its conflict with the US and Israel, the official said.
Italy aims to boost its co-operation with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, the official added. Estimates show that about 12 per cent of Italy's energy imports come from the Middle East.
The US-Israeli war on Iran is in its fifth week, with its endgame still unclear. Iran continues to attack critical infrastructure in the Gulf and Italy has sent aerial defences to the region to help defend against Iran's strikes.
Washington and Tehran have exchanged threats, as well as issuing contradictory messages about the progress of negotiations to end the conflict.
That has severely disrupted markets and hit net energy importers very hard, forcing them to impose energy-saving measures.
Italy has extended fuel tax cuts to May 1, committing around €500 million ($577 million) in additional funds to help mitigate the impact of higher energy prices caused by the conflict.
Businesses and consumers will continue to have a €0.25-per-litre reduction in taxes at the pump throughout the period, Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said. The new measures add to a similar one that was set to expire on April 7.
Italy and France have also issued a warning about the “grave crisis in Lebanon” and the risks to the UN peacekeeping mission in the south of the country, after three Indonesian personnel were killed in explosions.
Italy has enjoyed strong relationships with Gulf countries. Europe's fourth-biggest economy consistently ranks among Saudi Arabia’s 10 biggest European trading partners. Saudi Arabia is also a strategic energy supplier and increasingly attractive market for Italian exports and investment, according to the Jeddah-based think tank Gulf Research Centre.
The UAE and Italy, meanwhile, continue to boost their bilateral ties. President Sheikh Mohamed became the first UAE leader to visit Italy in February 2025, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella returned the favour in January, as both countries seek ways to enhance co-operation.
Qatar has also strengthened its relations with Italy, especially in defence, in addition to a growing number of Italian companies operating in the Gulf state, the Italian embassy in Doha said.
