Italian PM Meloni makes unannounced Gulf tour — Saudi Arabia then Qatar — to address Iran war energy crisis

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Qatar on Saturday April 4 after an earlier unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia, where she held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In Doha, Meloni met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. According to her office, the two leaders discussed energy issues and 'possible measures to mitigate the shocks suffered' from the Iran war. Meloni said Italy was 'ready to contribute to the rehabilitation of Qatari energy infrastructure, which is essential to energy security on a global scale.' The unannounced visit signals deep European concern over the energy price surge driven by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing Gulf infrastructure strikes. Italy, like other European states, is heavily dependent on imported energy. Meloni's Gulf tour places Italy as an active diplomatic player in the crisis, and her offer to help rehabilitate Qatari energy infrastructure is a notable commitment. AFP reported.