Premier Giorgia Meloni on Monday said
Italy and Saudi Arabia have an interest in boosting strategic
ties in a number of sectors.
"Italy and Saudi Arabia have an interest in tightening strategic
relations" on various themes, she noted.
Italy has signed cooperation and industrial agreements worth
some 10 billion euros with Saudi Arabia as part of a boosted
strategic partnership between the two countries, Meloni said on
Sunday after meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in
Al'Ula.
"Another theme is the issue of those who could favour activities
of proselytism in Europe and I haven't changed idea on this -
but I don't think there is anything about all of this in the
work we have done during these days", added the premier,
addressing reporters at the end of her visit to the country.
Speaking about the situation in the Middle East, Meloni told
reporters that Saudi Arabia is a "key actor".
In particular, she noted that, "regarding the hypothesis we
support of a normalization and a two-State solution, the
normalization of relations between Arabia and Israel can
facilitate the process".
She also noted this was true "in Lebanon as well, where Saudi
has a key role in the strengthening of Lebanese institutions and
in the election of the new president".
Meloni went on to say that in Syria also, Saudi Arabia is a
"country committed to stabilization".
"Arabia is objectively an actor which, in the Middle East as
well as in Africa, has a very important role of stabilization
and normalization" and represents "an interlocutor with whom it
is important to work together".
The premier then told reporters that she was in favour of the
GCAP combat aircraft accord with the UK and Japan expanding to
include Saudi Arabia, although the process would "not be
immediate".
Melon also spoke about tariffs, calling for dialogue as a "clash
wouldn't benefit anyone".
"Dialogue and a balanced solution" are the way to deal with
tariffs "so I will do what I can" to find "solutions together
with the US administration", she noted.
"The issue of the commercial surplus is not a matter born with
[Donald] Trump's presidency, it was an issue often posed by
American administrations", Meloni explained.
"In 2023, the trade surplus between Europe and the United States
was of over 150 billion in favour of Europe - it's an important
figure", she noted, adding that she "understood the point of
view of the United States: it is the same matter that, for
example, we pose to China".
However, the premier noted that, "if we looked at the overall
figure, involving for example the theme of trade in services,
then there the trade balance would be in favour of the United
States by some 100 billion, showing that the economies are
complementary and interconnected and so we say that a clash
doesn't benefit anyone".
On Sunday, Meloni said relations between Italy and Saudi Arabia
have reached a new high as she took part in a high-level round
table in Al'Ula.
"We are all aware that the relationship between the Italian and
Saudi economic and financial systems has much room for growth:
it is in our common interest to make a qualitative leap," said
Meloni, who is on a three day visit to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
"There is huge untapped potential in our cooperation, and this
visit can open a completely new phase in our partnership, and
that is why we have elevated our bilateral relations to the
level of strategic partnership".
She added that deals worth a total of 10 billion dollars signed
on Sunday "constitute platforms on which to build further
opportunities together."
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