Italian PM Meloni makes 'surprise' visit to Gulf countries
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni departed from Jeddah on Saturday morning, the first stop on her visit to the Gulf region, during which she is also scheduled to meet with the leaders of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, after she was received on Friday night by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the defensive military assistance provided by Italy and exchanged views on the prospects of the Iran conflict amid ongoing efforts toward a diplomatic solution, officials said.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss how to secure energy supplies and mitigate the conflict's impact on businesses and citizens.
The two leaders also agreed on the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.
-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson




