Overview
- Italy's prime minister met Qatar's emir in Doha to discuss energy shocks from the Middle East war, and offered Italian help to rehabilitate Qatari energy infrastructure.
- The Doha meeting followed talks in Riyadh with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during Meloni's unannounced swing through the Gulf.
- The Italian government says the trip aims to lock in national energy supplies and to show support for Gulf states facing Iranian drone and missile strikes.
- Officials describe Meloni as the first leader from an EU or NATO country to visit the Gulf since the war began, signaling Western engagement in the crisis.
- Italy is highly reliant on imported oil and gas, has cut fuel excise taxes to ease price spikes, and recently sought more Algerian gas, which already covers about 30% of its needs.