Meloni’s surprise Gulf blitz to shore up Italy’s energy and trade ties
Giorgia Meloni flew to Jeddah for a two‑day, tightly guarded mission to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar — the first visit to the region by an EU/G20/NATO leader since the Iran war began. Her aim: lock in energy supplies, reassure €30bn of trade and coordinate on regional security as drone and missile attacks escalate.
Apr 3, 2026, 9:55 AM EDT
Why it matters:
- Italy relies on Gulf producers for a meaningful share of oil and gas, so instability there risks higher prices, supply shocks and pressure on households and industry. - Meloni’s trip is both diplomatic and pragmatic: it’s meant to protect energy access, safeguard Italian investments and keep trade flows open while the Iran war threatens shipping and regional stability.
Driving the news:
- Meloni landed in Jeddah for a surprise 48‑hour mission with planned meetings in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. - She met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah and held talks in Doha and Abu Dhabi as part of the itinerary. - The trip was kept secret until arrival for security reasons; a planned stop in Kuwait was canceled amid recent drone and missile strikes in the region.
The big picture:
- Rome wants to deepen strategic partnerships in the Gulf to ensure continuity of energy supplies and to reassure Italian firms — notably Eni — that investments will continue. - Italy is pitching cooperation formats linking the Gulf and the G7 to align responses on energy, food security and regional de‑escalation. - Diplomatic channels with Tehran remain open, and Rome stresses negotiation and a UN‑backed approach to securing navigation and a ceasefire.
By the numbers:
- Around 15% of Italy’s oil and about 10% of its gas come from Gulf suppliers — a central rationale for the mission. - Italy–Gulf trade is roughly €30 billion, with more than €20 billion coming from Italian exports. - Italian officials cited intense recent attacks in the area — for example, reports of 47 drones and 18 ballistic missiles hitting Emirati territory — which shaped the trip’s secrecy and security posture.
The tension:
- The mission balances two pressures: protecting energy and commercial ties while avoiding actions that could be seen as escalating the conflict. - Rome says any military assistance would be strictly defensive and will be evaluated case‑by‑case at partners’ requests. - The humanitarian spillover is acute: regional displacement — including about 1 million people already uprooted in Lebanon — adds urgency to diplomatic efforts.
The bottom line:
- Meloni’s Gulf blitz is a short, high‑stakes push to lock in energy and trade security while Rome tries to thread a diplomatic needle between deterrence, de‑escalation and protecting national economic interests.