Sky’s the limit. During the recent UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to Rome, Italy and the United Arab Emirates solidified their bilateral relations by signing a series of key agreements spanning cybersecurity, energy, infrastructure, scientific research, and advanced technology.
- The defence sector played a crucial role, underscoring its strategic importance in Italy-UAE relations.
- Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, who personally welcomed Sheikh Mohammed at Rome’s airport, signed a comprehensive defence cooperation agreement with the UAE.
- According to Crosetto, this agreement represents “a concrete step” to intensify our collaboration with the UAE, “a country bound to us not only by a strong friendship but also by a shared commitment to global stability and security.”
- He emphasised that beyond political accords, this marks the beginning of a strategic partnership for Italy’s defence industry in the Gulf region.
Underwater defence. Following a preliminary agreement last November, Fincantieri has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirati conglomerate Edge Group to expand cooperation in underwater defence.
- Through their joint venture Maestral, based in Abu Dhabi, the companies will collaborate on designing, developing, and producing unmanned systems for protecting critical underwater infrastructure, seabed mapping technology, next-generation submarines, drone-carrier ships, and lightweight torpedoes.
- Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero noted that the underwater defence market is projected to reach $400 billion by 2030, stressing that “some topics require a geopolitical vision—a vision that fosters strategic agreements to unite strengths and create a unified bloc.”
Why it matters. The underwater domain is emerging as a critical frontier in global security, with increased investments in subsea infrastructure and defence technologies.
- Italy has positioned itself as a key player in this field, leveraging its naval engineering and maritime defence expertise.
- The strategic focus on underwater capabilities is driven by the need to protect critical undersea infrastructure, such as communication cables and energy pipelines, from potential threats.
- The establishment of Italy’s Polo Nazionale per la Subacquea in La Spezia highlights the country’s commitment to advancing underwater research and technology, fostering innovation for both military and civilian applications.
- The collaboration between Italy and the UAE in this domain underscores the broader geopolitical importance of subsea security in an era of heightened global tensions, particularly in the Indo-Mediterranean region.
Expanding cooperation to space. The renewed Italy-UAE partnership spans from the depths of the sea to outer space.
- The Italian Space Agency (ASI) has signed two MoUs with the UAE Space Agency (UAESA) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), focusing on two significant missions: Rashid Rover 3, part of the Emirates Lunar Mission (ELM) targeting the lunar South Pole, and the Emirates Mission to Asteroids (EMA), aimed at studying scientifically significant asteroids.
- Italy will contribute advanced technology, including the Moon Infrared Spectrometer (MoonIS) for the lunar rover, alongside scientific support for EMA.
Cybersecurity and electronic defence. The cyber domain is another key area where Italy and the UAE have aligned their efforts.
- Last week, an MoU was signed between ELT Group and Edge, paving the way for a joint venture in electronic defence.
- CEO Enzo Benigni stated that these agreements “solidify an already strong partnership and create opportunities for joint growth in addressing modern global security challenges.”
The big picture. The deepening ties between Italy and the UAE reflect a broader geopolitical shift.
- Italy is positioning itself as a key player in the Gulf’s defence, space, and cybersecurity sectors.
- Additionally, Leonardo and Edge have signed a letter of intent for a potential strategic collaboration in the naval sector.
- These agreements enhance Italy’s influence in the region and underscore the growing strategic importance of technological and security collaboration amid global instability.
