The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, held a meeting today with Ambassadors from the Middle East to take stock of the situation regarding the Gulf crisis, both in its political aspects and in terms of assistance to Italian nationals. The meeting also provided an opportunity to assess developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz and the repercussions on energy transit routes.
Missile and drone strikes continue across several countries in the region, including against gas and oil facilities, with consequent impacts on energy supplies.
In Qatar, the country’s most important gas export facility – supplying gas also to Italy – has been hit, and its reconstruction is expected to take several years. The Embassy in Doha has strengthened coordination with Italian companies operating locally, in order to support them and monitor the whereabouts of Italian personnel.
In the United Arab Emirates, the Italian Embassy is working with local authorities to assist Italian companies facing logistical or customs-related difficulties.
Assistance activities for Italian nationals are ongoing, as are efforts to respond to the serious situation in Lebanon, where the number of internally displaced persons continues to rise. A flight operated by Italian Cooperation carrying 30 tonnes of essential relief supplies arrived in the country yesterday. Last week, as part of the Italian Government’s commitment to Lebanon, Minister Tajani announced a new EUR 10 million emergency aid package.
