Giorgia Meloni leaves Saudi Arabia convinced that the accusations of inconsistency thrown at her by the opposition will shatter against the “results achieved”. The video with a split screen published by several rivals, including Elly Schlein, has gone viral: on one side, the leader of FdI criticizing “a fundamentalist nation” in 2019 highlighting human rights issues and soft power “to conquer Europe without waging war”; on the other side, the premier sitting cross-legged under a tent with Mohammad bin Salman.
“Now Meloni – as summarized by the Democratic secretary – doesn’t let a single day go by without contradicting herself.” But for the Prime Minister, the issue doesn’t exist: “The opposition throws everything at me, but there is no contradiction between what I said yesterday and what I am doing today.”
Her response comes before leaving Al’-Ula and flying to Bahrain, the final stop of the three-day mission in the Gulf. It is the first visit by an Italian Prime Minister after over 50 years of bilateral relations: migrations, investments, and interreligious dialogue are the central themes of the meeting between the Prime Minister and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. “Strategic” agreements in the energy and defense sectors, as well as in the relationship with Africa, are instead the ones forged between Italy and Saudi Arabia, emphasized the Prime Minister.
“Completely different – Meloni emphasizes – is the issue I raised in the past, the question of who should potentially promote proselytizing activities in Europe. I haven’t changed my mind, but I don’t see any of that in the work we have done these days.” She claims to have understood the importance of Saudi Arabia first, as Matteo Renzi wrote: “Giorgia is not bad, she just arrives later,” in his e-newsletter.
“Nothing to say about the contracts with our companies,” says Giuseppe Conte, who wonders if it was “really necessary to sit in the tent of a bin Salman like any Renzi.” Meloni’s staff highlights the rapport developed with bin Salman. Saudi media reported that the prince talked to her at length about the traditions and cultural heritage of his country, in front of a series of traditional artistic performances, before signing the strategic partnership and agreements worth almost 10 billion euros.
It was “not a courtesy visit” and these “concrete results” are the Prime Minister’s best response to criticism, because the Riyadh monarchy is a key player not only in the Middle East but also in the broader Mediterranean, on which the government focuses a good part of its foreign policy strategies. For Meloni, it is important to have elevated the relations between the two countries, initiating “a new phase”. The Prime Minister endorses the entry of Saudis into Gcap, the alliance between Italy, Japan, and the UK for next-generation fighters, albeit describing the move as “not immediate”.
In Saudi Arabia, she hopes to find support for the implementation of the Mattei Plan in Africa, and many of the recently signed agreements, especially in the energy sector, have been designed with this goal in mind. She emphasizes that the normalization of relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv “can facilitate” the stabilization of the Middle East. The Prime Minister, however, does not comment on Donald Trump’s proposal to “clean up” Gaza by relocating Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan.
“We are not facing a defined plan, but discussions with regional actors who must definitely be involved in the refugee issue,” she comments. And when the conversation shifts to the new direction taken by Washington and the risk of tariffs for Europe, Meloni clarifies that “a confrontation benefits no one.” Her commitment, she explains, is to “find solutions together with the American administration,” because “dialogue and balance are the way to address” this delicate issue.
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