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(Bloomberg) — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Doha Saturday as part of a two-day diplomatic charm offensive meant to shore up ties with the Gulf and bolster energy supplies hit by the war in Iran.
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Meloni, the first European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization leader to visit the region since the Iran war began in February, was set to meet with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, her office said.
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On Friday, the premier met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to a statement from her office, the two leaders discussed defensive aid and diplomatic efforts to mediate a solution to the conflict. They also discussed opening up the Strait of Hormuz and securing energy supplies to stem the impact of the war.
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The conflict and effective closure of the strait has triggered a surge in oil and gas prices, stoking fears of an economic crisis in Italy and the rest of the world. Meloni flew to Algeria last month in a bid to secure greater gas supplies from the North African nation.
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Meloni, who was the sole foreign leader to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council meeting last year, will make the case that Italy’s ties with the Gulf are central. She will also relay that investment from state-backed energy majors in the region, such as ENI SpA, will continue.
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Italy has sent aerial defenses to Gulf nations attacked by Iran in retaliation for the US and Israeli strikes. In an interview with state broadcaster Rai on Friday, the premier said this was “above all” done to “protect the tens of thousands of Italians who are present there.”
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“The trip is an act of solidarity toward friendly nations, but it clearly also has the aim of ensuring Italy’s energy supplies that are necessary,” she said.
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Still, Meloni struck a cautious tone on the US and has been reluctant to overtly condemn the war.
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When asked about a recent move to deny the US use of an Italian base, she said: “Europe does not have much to gain from a rift with the United States. However, our job is above all to defend our national interests, and when we disagree, we must say so, and this time, we do not agree.”
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