Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Doha on Saturday, April 4, as part of a two-day trip designed to strengthen ties with the Gulf countries and secure energy supplies that have been damaged by the US and Israeli war with Iran, Bloomberg reports..

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Meloni, who is the first European Union and NATO leader to visit the region since the war with Iran began in February, is due to meet with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

On Friday, April 3, Meloni met with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. According to a statement from Meloni's office, the meeting discussed defense assistance and diplomacy with the goal of mediating to end the war.. The leaders also discussed the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring energy supplies to mitigate the consequences of the war..

Meloni, who attended a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council last year, shows that Italy's ties with the Gulf countries are key. She is also expected to announce continued investment in the region from Italy's state-owned energy giants such as ENI SpA.

Italy provided air defense to Gulf countries that were attacked by Iran in response to US and Israeli strikes. In an interview with broadcaster Rai on Friday, Meloni noted that this was done primarily to “protect the tens of thousands of Italians” who are in the region.

“This trip is an act of solidarity with friendly countries, but undoubtedly it also intends to provide the energy supplies Italy needs,” Meloni said.

However, she spoke cautiously regarding the United States and did not dare to openly condemn the war.

" However, our task is first and foremost to protect national interests, and when we disagree, we must say so, and this time we do not agree,” Meloni responded to a question about the recent decision to ban the United States from using the Italian base.

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The war with Iran and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz have sent oil and gas prices soaring, fueling concerns about the risk of an economic crisis.. Meloni visited Algeria last month in an effort to secure large gas supplies from the North African country..

The Strategy XXI Center's Expert Group analyzed how a new war in the Middle East is rewriting the rules of the global economy and who will pay a high price and who will benefit in the article "