His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Monday, September 29, 2025. The high-level meeting, held at Palazzo Chigi, aimed to strengthen the deep-rooted bilateral cooperation between the two nations and resulted in the signing of a significant Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership (SIP).
Deepening Economic and Strategic Cooperation
A cornerstone of the discussions was the formalization of a Strategic Investment and Collaboration Partnership (SIP). This agreement was signed between Bahrain's Ministry of Finance and National Economy and Italy's Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. The SIP is poised to unlock investments exceeding one billion euros ($1.2 billion), signaling a robust commitment to bolstering economic relations and increasing trade and investments between Bahrain and Italy.
The partnership will focus on a wide array of sectors, including:
- Economic relations and trade
- Energy security and transition
- Defense cooperation at both military and industrial levels
- Construction, transport, and tourism
- Smart cities, housing, and urban planning
- Food security
- Industrial partnerships, research, and innovation
Shared Regional and Global Agendas
Beyond economic ties, the leaders engaged in extensive discussions on critical regional and international developments. They reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, with the United Nations (UN) at its core. Italy congratulated Bahrain on its recent election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2026-27 term.
The two nations also acknowledged migration as a global issue requiring a collective and international commitment to address its challenges. In a joint statement, both leaders called for an end to the conflict in Gaza, ensuring unimpeded humanitarian aid access, and the release of all Israeli hostages. They also expressed support for a two-state solution.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
The meeting is part of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa's official visit to Italy and builds upon a long history of diplomatic and economic relations between Bahrain and Italy, which date back to 1973. Bilateral non-oil trade reached $779 million in 2024, positioning Italy as Bahrain's leading European trading partner. Previous high-level exchanges include visits by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Rome and Prime Minister Meloni's earlier visit to Bahrain.
The leaders emphasized the importance of deepening their strategic partnership across all levels, aiming to create new opportunities aligned with the shared goals and aspirations of both countries. The newly signed agreements and ongoing dialogues are expected to further solidify the strong alignment of political views and complementary strengths between Bahrain and Italy, fostering continued growth and stability.
5 Comments
Rotfront
Finally, some concrete steps for international cooperation! This partnership looks incredibly promising.
Karamba
It's positive to see calls for an end to the Gaza conflict and humanitarian aid. However, achieving a lasting two-state solution requires far more than just joint statements from these two countries.
Mariposa
The economic investment is certainly a boost for both nations, but the increased defense cooperation raises questions about regional stability and arms proliferation.
Coccinella
Bahrain's growing global influence is clear. A strong alliance benefiting all.
Bermudez
Smart move to diversify sectors beyond oil. Excellent strategic partnership!