Rome: In a significant move to fortify bilateral relations, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, met with the Italian President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, in Italy. The meeting concluded with a joint statement underscoring a comprehensive plan to strengthen cooperation across various sectors between the two nations.
According to Bahrain News Agency, a key outcome of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Strategic Investments and Collaboration Partnership (SIP). This partnership aims to bolster economic relations, targeting investments exceeding one billion euros. Both countries are set to reinforce their defense partnership, with Italy expressing gratitude to Bahrain for hosting the Italian Navy Contingent within the Combined Maritime Forces.
The joint statement highlighted increased cooperation in energy security and transition, emphasizing industrial collaboration, research and development, and ecologic transition. Italy and Bahrain are committed to working together in sectors such as construction, transport, tourism, and smart cities, which will open additional avenues for Italian firms to contribute to Bahrain’s infrastructure development.
Food security is another area where the two nations aim to collaborate, ensuring a sustainable food supply chain and supporting Bahrain’s national food production. Furthermore, they pledged to advance customs cooperation, building on a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding in February 2025, to enhance international trade and strengthen national economies.
Space exploration is also on the horizon, with a newly agreed Memorandum of Understanding between the Bahrain Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency focusing on the peaceful use of outer space and fostering joint research and training opportunities.
In addition to sectoral cooperation, the two sides addressed global and regional concerns, reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism and congratulating Bahrain on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the term 2026-27. They underscored the need for international cooperation in addressing migration and countering human trafficking and transnational organized crime.
The statement also conveyed a unified call for peace in the Middle East, demanding an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza and the release of hostages. Both nations reiterated their support for a two-State solution, urging the cessation of any actions undermining peace efforts in the West Bank and advocating for humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
Italy and Bahrain emphasized their commitment to Syria’s sovereignty and economic recovery, advocating for the voluntary, safe return of Syrians through collaboration with UN agencies. They also reaffirmed support for diplomatic efforts concerning Iran’s nuclear obligations and expressed a desire for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.
Lastly, the joint statement highlighted an intention to strengthen ties between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), particularly ahead of Bahrain’s upcoming presidency of the GCC and the EU-GCC Summit in 2026.