The trip coincided with the EU–GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Ministerial Meeting, during which Rome reaffirmed the connection between regional security, economic revitalisation, and cultural diplomacy.
Why it matters: Italy is pursuing an integrated approach in the Gulf, combining diplomacy, economic cooperation, and cultural dialogue.
- Participation in the EU–GCC meeting aimed to consolidate Rome’s role as a bridge between Europe and the Gulf, especially in the post-Gaza stabilisation phase.
- The partnership with Bahrain — reinforced through cultural cooperation, including Italian language scholarship programs — reflects Italy’s soft power strategy and complements its economic engagement in the region.
What happened:
- From Manama (Bahrain) — Tripodi co-chaired bilateral political consultations with the Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Khaled Yousef Al-Jalahma, discussing Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and economic cooperation.
- Bilateral trade between Italy and Bahrain grew by 17% in the first half of 2025.
- The mission followed the recent state visit to Rome by Prime Minister and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, which led to the signing of a Joint Declaration and a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and investments.
- From Kuwait — Tripodi attended the 29th EU–GCC Joint Committee and Ministerial Meeting, co-chaired by Kaja Kallas and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya.
- Italy reiterated the need for a new peace architecture for the Middle East, based on a lasting solution for Gaza and the stability of Syria and Lebanon.
- Tripodi emphasised the key role of the EU and GCC in supporting an inclusive political transition in Syria and institutional strengthening in Lebanon.
Zoom in: Decode39 interviewed EU Special Representative Luigi Di Maio on the sidelines of the Kuwait summit. Read the interview.
What she said: “The pacification of Gaza, together with the stability of Syria and Lebanon, is an integral part of the Italian vision for a new architecture of peace and security in the Middle East, in which the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council have a crucial role to play,” said Tripodi from Kuwait City.
- The Undersecretary also stressed the need to support stability in Syria, preventing new tensions and promoting a “truly inclusive political transition, in full respect of the country’s sovereignty,” and in Lebanon, highlighting that “the priority remains strengthening institutions and the armed forces — essential conditions for the country’s security and development.”
Between the lines: The Holy See has announced the first international journey of Pope Leo XVI, scheduled from November 27 to December 2.
- The Pope will visit Turkey — starting from Nicea (Iznik), where the Council of Nicaea was held 1,700 years ago — before traveling to Lebanon, a country that Pope John Paul II once described as “a mosaic of cultures and faiths.”
What we’re watching:
- The following steps in Italy’s National Export Plan are across the Gulf countries.
- Implementation of the protocols signed during Crown Prince Salman’s visit to Rome.
- Italy’s role within the EU in shaping reconstruction and security initiatives across the broader Middle East.
