Saudi Days in Rome

The visit marks a new step in consolidating Italian–Saudi relations, within the framework of Vision 2030 and Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa and the Mediterranean.

Why it matters: Rome and Riyadh aim to build a stable bridge between Europe and the Gulf, aligning domestic reforms, investments, and security priorities.

October 22 — Legal & Governance

• Italian Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio met with his Saudi counterpart Waaled bin Mohammed al-Smaani.
• The two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on judicial cooperation, marking the first step toward a structured dialogue in legal and administrative matters.
• The agreement is part of a broader effort to enhance institutional ties and exchange regulatory expertise between the two countries.

October 23 — Business & Trade

• Rome hosted the Italy–Saudi Arabia Business Forum, bringing together ministers, senior officials, and business leaders from both nations.
• Deputy Minister Valentino Valentini (MIMIT) stressed that “dialogue is the only viable path: there are no winners in trade wars, only in partnership and mutual progress.”
• Valentini noted that in 2024, bilateral trade reached €10.3 billion, with a 28% increase in Italian exports to the Kingdom.
• Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Giorgio Silli described the relationship as “excellent and constantly growing,” highlighting that Saudi Arabia absorbs over 15% of Italian exports to the MENA region and is a priority market under Minister Tajani’s Export Plan.

October 24 — Political & Strategic Dialogue

• Political dialogue and reforms: The Saudi delegation met with the Italy–Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship Committee, chaired by Marco Osnato, and later with Minister for Institutional Reforms Elisabetta Casellati.
  • Casellati described the discussions as “very constructive, focusing on modernization and competitiveness,” pointing to the convergence between Vision 2030 and Italy’s ongoing reforms (premiership, regulatory simplification, and generational impact assessment).
• Defense and Security: During the same day, Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto met with Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid bin Abdullah AlKassabi, expressing “satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the Italian and Saudi armed forces.”
  • In what he described as a “productive” bilateral meeting, Crosetto noted that “further significant opportunities for collaboration and joint efforts toward shared security and stability goals are being evaluated.”
  • He also emphasized “the results achieved in the training sector, including the instruction of Saudi pilots at Italy’s Air Force Flight Schools,” and conveyed appreciation “for the recent collaborations launched with the national defense industry, hoping for further strengthening of partnerships across all domains, starting with the aerospace sector.”
• Industry and Made in Italy: Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso met with Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid bin Abdullah AlKassabi at Palazzo Piacentini to discuss bilateral industrial cooperation and foreign investment opportunities.
  • Urso noted that “Rome and Riyadh share strong industrial complementarities” and that Saudi Arabia is becoming a key investor for Italy.
  • He also presented the AI Hub for Sustainable Development initiative, aimed at promoting sustainable growth through artificial intelligence, and highlighted new opportunities in industrial and mining partnerships under the Strategic Partnership framework established during Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Saudi Arabia last January.

Experts’ Take:

• Kamel Al-Munajjid, President of the Italy–Saudi Business Council, described the Italy–Arab Forum in Rome as “a concrete step to consolidate the strategic partnership.”
  • “This was not a celebratory event but the first milestone since the signing of the Strategic Partnership Treaty last January, during Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Al-Ula. The Forum established a mechanism for ongoing consultation between public and private sectors to monitor joint projects and strengthen Italy’s presence in key Vision 2030 sectors.”
  • Al-Munajjid added that Riyadh aims “to position the Kingdom as a regional hub for major Italian companies, while promoting the role of Italian SMEs and artisans,” expressing hope that Foreign Minister Tajani’s upcoming visit (in November) “will serve as a practical continuation of the Forum’s objectives, not merely a promotional mission.”
• Major General Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Harbi, a Saudi expert in strategic relations, called the Forum “a crucial moment in the development of the partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Italian Republic.”
  • “It extends a series of high-level engagements, including the Riyadh Forum in 2022 and the Milan Roundtable in 2023, which deepened cooperation in energy, infrastructure, and advanced industries.”
  • According to Al-Harbi, “Vision 2030 and Italy’s Industrial Innovation Agenda are not parallel paths but complementary platforms for joint investment, technological exchange, and cultural diplomacy.”
  • “With shifting global dynamics, such forums are no longer mere protocol events but operational platforms that transform diplomatic intent into tangible projects and economic ambition into sustainable partnerships.”

The Big Picture: The Saudi mission to Rome reflects a broader intensification of dialogue between Italy and the Gulf states, combining economic diplomacy with strategic cooperation.

• While Riyadh advances its economic diversification beyond oil, Rome seeks to reinforce its Mediterranean and global footprint through long-term partnerships in energy, defense, innovation, and institutional reform.

(Foto: X, @Min_Casellati)