Italy lauds Qatar’s leadership role to end Gaza war, seeks to deepen ties

Naples, Italy: Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, H E Antonio Tajani, is likely to visit Qatar before the end of this year for “further strengthening the strategic dialogue” between Qatar and Italy.

“I am planning to visit Doha before the end of the year in order to further strengthen the strategic dialogue between our countries and explore new avenues to deepen our cooperation in fields of mutual interest,” Tajani told Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula Prof. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi in an exclusive Interview.

He added, “Last September we signed an agreement on security cooperation for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics, following up on the successful collaboration already established during the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Doha. We are glad we can count on Qatari support ahead of this important event.”

Describing Qatar as a “critical partner for Italy” also from an economic and commercial perspective, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs said that fact is demonstrated by the very positive trend in trade over the last seven years.

“In the first two quarters of 2025, trade with Qatar reached €3bn, up +21% compared to the same period in 2024. The signing in Rome, in October 2024, of a Memorandum of Understanding for the promotion of investments represents an opportunity to launch new joint discussions aimed at strengthening sectors that we both consider to be priorities.”

He noted that the solid bilateral cooperation is particularly important in key fields such as energy, defence, infrastructure and transport. “We are ready to expand our cooperation into new areas, contributing to the achievement of the ambitious goals of Qatar National Vision 2030, which offers promising opportunities for new partnerships, including in innovative sectors such as digital transition.”

The Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula participated in the 11th edition of the MED Dialogues conference, held in Naples from October 15 to 17.  Tajani lauded Qatar’s mediation efforts to end conflicts in the region and beyond, saying, “We recognise and commend Qatari diplomatic efforts in the region and beyond. As far as Afghanistan is concerned, Qatar keeps representing such a crucial actor in the framework of the “Doha Process”, the UN platform in which Italy continues to be engaged in, to promote a possible gradual rapprochement of Afghanistan to the International community, starting from the respect of human rights. 

“We see Qatar strongly supportive of this new page in Syrian history, which Italy also follows closely, mindful of the strategic importance of that country for the region. Your country’s mediation role to end the war in the Gaza Strip and to release the hostages is tremendously helpful and we hope you will continue to lead these efforts alongside the partners of the region.”  

Future of bilateral ties

Talking on the future of Qatar–Italy relations over the next five to ten years, Tajani noted, “Given the solid foundations upon which our partnership relies, I am sure that bilateral relations will only grow stronger in the coming years. We are truly committed to deepening political dialogue on regional and international issues, as well as looking for new opportunities to expand cooperation in trade and investments.

“We are keen on expanding cooperation also in the cultural field through ambitious initiatives, as a follow-up of the signing in Rome, in October 2024, of the Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Cultural Sector, with the shared goal of a joint Year of Culture.”

Two-state solution

To a question about large demonstrations staged across Italy, including in Rome, expressing solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian cause but the Italian government’s resistance to calls to formally recognize the State of Palestine, he said that Italy is very close to the people of Gaza and has been working endlessly to mitigate the unjust consequences upon the Palestinian people of a brutal conflict between Hamas and Israel.

“Our international standing has always been straightforward and our position concerning the formal recognition of Palestine is clear. As indicated by the last resolution of our Parliament, Italy will recognise Palestine when the process for restitution of hostage remains is completed and when Hamas will renounce any political and military presence in the Gaza strip and the West Bank. We have been always working towards a two-state solution working closely with all the relevant actors in the region. And we will continue to do so.”

MED Dialogues

To a question about the main purpose of organising such a major event annually, the Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the MED Dialogues is the leading conference on the Mediterranean that Italy has been promoting since 2015.

“We decided to move this edition, for the first time, to Naples, one of the oldest capitals of our sea that celebrates this year the 2500th anniversary of its foundation. The MED Dialogues allows to rethink traditional approaches to the area, bringing in new ideas and suggestions and to draft a “positive agenda” for the whole region, which tackles security and socio-economic challenges through common visions.”

He added, “The MED Dialogues were the first high-level international meeting to be hold after the agreements in Sharm El-Sheikh on the crisis in Gaza. It has been an extraordinary opportunity to start working together on the pathway that should bring the region from a fragile ceasefire to a durable peace.” He said that the facts more than words demonstrate that the MED Dialogues are indeed an effective platform to bring together all the Mediterranean nations. “We want a sea of peace, development, trade and justice for all. During the Dialogues, Foreign Ministers of Israel, Gideon Saar, and of the Palestinian National Authority, Varsen Aghabekian, were present for the first time in the same venue since the ceasefire. With both of them I had fruitful meetings to discuss the agenda for peace and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. Their presence in Naples demonstrated the willingness of both sides to maintain a close cooperation with the Italian government.”

He said that the agreement achieved in Sharm El-Sheikh Egypt inspired hope after so much tragedy. “To build a shared peace we need a broad participation of all the actors involved, both at regional and international level. Many of these were present in Naples, where together we discussed challenges and opportunities, keeping in mind that geography and history unite us in a shared future. On this occasion, we have adopted the “Naples Declaration”, to reaffirm the importance of the windows for peace opened in Sharm El-Sheikh, but also to call for an urgent and responsible action of all the countries of the region, in order to build a future of prosperity and peaceful coexistence.”

Humanitarian diplomacy

Responding to a question about mechanisms to prevent Gaza-like humanitarian tragedies from happening again, he said that history demonstrated clearly that diplomacy, dialogue and reciprocal comprehension are the only real antidotes to wars and humanitarian tragedies like the one happened in Gaza.

“If we want to learn from our shared history, we urgently have to foster our reciprocal understanding, increase the venues of open and frank dialogue, like the MED Dialogues, and above all increase our economic and commercial interdependence with great projects such as the Indian – Middle East – Corridor (IMEC). This can be a real game changer that could help all the Mediterranean to reestablish peace and shared prosperity for all.”

He continued, “Look at the European experience. European states have been at war for centuries. Hundreds of millions of lives have been lost in brutal conflicts all along our continent. However, we have enjoyed a long-lasting peace since the end of the Second World War in 1945. Why? Because all the Europeans have learned to cooperate, to share resources, such as coal and steel at the beginning, then to share technologies and to travel and work freely within our continent. We learn languages and customs of our neighbours and they do the same with us. Cooperation and integration, as our founding fathers showed us, are the only real mechanisms to avoid wars, famine and devastation.”

Irregular migration

On Italy and other EU member states coordinating efforts to address the challenges of irregular migration across the Mediterranean, he said that the Mediterranean remains a strategic crossroads for Italy and the European Union — a region where shared challenges and opportunities intertwine.

“Italy is fully committed to the ambitious implementation of the Pact for the Mediterranean, which embodies the EU’s determination to be a balanced, respectful and non paternalistic partner for our Southern neighbours.

“Irregular migration continues to pose significant problems. In recent years, Italy has consistently been the main entry point for irregular arrivals by sea in Europe. In response, we have developed a national migration strategy aligned with EU efforts, focused on dismantling human trafficking networks by tackling the root causes of migration and offering safe, legal, and dignified alternatives for those seeking a better future. Also in this framework, Qatar is a valuable security partner.”

He said Italy’s approach is grounded in cooperation — both bilateral and multilateral — with countries of origin and transit. “Initiatives such as the Rome Process and the Mattei Plan are at the heart of this collaborative effort. At the European level, we are advocating for robust, comprehensive partnerships with key African and Mediterranean countries to reduce irregular flows, strengthen border controls, and promote sustainable development.”

He said Italy’s goal is to allow those who are entitled to enter through safe channels and to prevent innocent deaths at sea. “The Mediterranean can’t be a symbol of death. Rather, it must be a common space of growth and prosperity for all.”