What Are the 3 Mideast Tracks Italian PM Meloni Mentioned in Manama?
Meloni also expressed the need for the GCC and Mediterranean countries to create a summit, which would include the Middle East, Southern Europe, and North Africa
Hudhaifa Ebrahim / The Media Line
Addressing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) last week in Bahrain’s capital, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni outlined three paths to restoring security and stability in the Gulf states and Europe.
“The first path is the Middle East, especially now, with the plan presented by President Trump, which offers a real opportunity to build a stable and lasting framework for peace and security,” Meloni said, adding, “We know the fragility of the truce, and we know the magnitude of the effort required to transform this opportunity into a long-term reality. However, we are all committed to supporting the unified efforts demonstrated by the international community in Sharm El Sheikh.”
Meloni highlighted Italy’s role in training the Palestinian police and providing assistance at the reconstruction conference. She placed special emphasis on establishing a Palestinian state, which she regarded as necessary for “ensuring security and stability in the Middle East,” adding that the effort “necessitates Israel’s recognition of the Palestinians’ right to their state and the ultimate recognition of Israel’s right to exist and to security.”
The Italian PM discussed the second track: “Iran has repeatedly declared that it is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, and if this is true – and I want to believe it is – then reaching a clear and credible agreement, with the full participation of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is crucial to reassuring the international community about the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program,” she said.
The third track Meloni addressed was “combating terrorism and extremism.” She noted that there are “growing tensions in Europe linked to cases of Islamic extremism and the increasing phenomenon of ‘Islamic separatism,’ meaning the rejection by some Muslim communities of European laws and customs. This creates tensions that threaten social cohesion and fuel hostility toward Muslim minorities.”
Meloni emphasized Italy’s role in facilitating these tracks, adding that her country “can and will be the gateway for the Gulf states to Europe, injecting greater momentum into economic cooperation, which is currently valued at $35 billion annually, but does not reflect the true potential of our relations.”
Meloni, who visited the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, the largest church in the Gulf, told reporters on the sidelines of the visit, “It was an important day.”
The Italian prime minister continued, “There are shared and pressing interests that necessitate strengthening cooperation, especially concerning the Mediterranean Sea, which is a key point for international maritime trade routes and networks that begin in Asia and can extend to the United States, passing through Europe and Africa.”
She expressed the need for the GCC and Mediterranean countries to create a summit, including the Middle East, Southern Europe, and North Africa. Meloni added, “The Mediterranean Sea represents only 1% of the world’s oceans, yet it sees the passage of approximately 20% of global maritime trade, reflecting an importance that transcends its geographical boundaries.”
The heads of state of the six GCC countries and their representatives met in Manama on Dec. 4 for the 46th GCC Summit, which resulted in the longest statement in the summit’s history – spanning 162 points seen as key to the next phase of cooperation among member states.
Notable steps toward integration within the GCC were highlighted, including the establishment of a Gulf Civil Aviation Authority and the adoption of a unified industrial platform, reflecting the member states’ desire to institutionalize economic cooperation and raise it to a more advanced level.
The statement also affirmed that the security of the GCC states is indivisible, and that any threat to one is a threat to all, in accordance with the GCC Charter and the Joint Defense Agreement.
It further emphasized the careful and ongoing implementation of the vision of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman for strengthening joint Gulf action, including the completion of defense and security systems, the unification of political positions, and the development of broad international partnerships, while assigning the relevant bodies the task of establishing a clear timetable for its fulfillment.
Gulf countries are still discussing how to move from cooperation to a full union, and the statement called upon the Ministerial Council and a specialized committee to take the steps needed to make that happen.
The final statement of the Gulf Summit said that “the Gulf leaders, meeting with the Italian prime minister, discussed the Palestinian issue and the Israeli aggression against Gaza, and explored ways to strengthen existing cooperation between the two sides within the framework of implementing a joint action plan for the period (2026-2030) to propel the partnership between them to broader horizons.”
Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani said in a press conference following the summit that “complex and changing European legislation is the main reason for the slowdown in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), but cooperation has not stopped; rather, it is expanding through bilateral and multilateral partnerships,” in a clear indication that the Gulf states have begun working on bilateral free trade agreements with European countries instead of a unified agreement.
Al-Zayani added, “The participation of the Italian prime minister came within the framework of an explicit European desire to raise the level of partnership with the Council, and to develop cooperation in the economy, security, technology and innovation, beyond the traditional framework of agreements.”
Saeed Mohammed, a Bahraini journalist, told The Media Line, “The Gulf states are certainly looking to expand their economic partnerships, and are therefore working individually with each European country to sign free trade agreements. Negotiations with the EU as a whole have proven extremely difficult to reach any solutions.”
He continued, “Bahrain hosted Giorgia Meloni, and previously hosted former British Prime Minister Theresa May at the 2016 summit. Therefore, Bahrain has opened the doors to further cooperation with European countries and Britain.”
Among the topics discussed at the Gulf Summit was the Gulf Iron Dome project, which fell under the umbrella of enhancing security and defense in the region. The Iron Dome project emerged following growing concerns about missile and drone attacks.
Work on the project was expedited after two attacks on Qatar: the first by Iran on June 23, 2015, which targeted the Al Udeid Air Base, and the second by Israel on Sept. 9, 2015, which targeted Palestinian leaders in Doha.
Jasem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the GCC, stated at a press conference following the summit, “There is progress in the Gulf Iron Dome project. The project has made significant strides in partnership with the United States, and there are ongoing regular meetings and continuous military and technical coordination.”
Al-Budaiwi added, “The GCC is preparing to organize a large-scale Gulf military exercise in the United Arab Emirates, involving land, sea and air forces, in a move that reflects the unified military readiness of the GCC member states.”
Among the points included in the final statement of the GCC was a call for adherence to the outcomes of the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit and the agreement signed to implement the Gaza peace plan, which was attended by US President Donald Trump, as well as other demands that have been reiterated at every summit.
The final statement also addressed the situations in Sudan, Yemen, Iraq and Syria, calling for “noninterference in the affairs of other countries, an immediate cease-fire in Sudan, and the achievement of a peace agreement.”
Saud Al-Momani, a Saudi political analyst, told The Media Line, “The Gulf states have now become key players in any peace agreements. We have seen several Gulf states hosting negotiations, striving to restore security and stability in the world, not just standing by as spectators.”
He continued, “Now the Gulf states have a strong ally in the White House, US President Donald Trump, and working with him is very beneficial. We can achieve results that are even more remarkable than expected.”
The summit includes significant economic initiatives, such as the establishment of the Gulf Civil Aviation Authority, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and a Customs Data Exchange Platform, which is expected to be operational by the second half of 2026.
The statement also indicated that the remaining requirements for the Customs Union will be addressed, and an executive action plan and timetable will be developed as quickly as possible. Furthermore, mechanisms will be put in place to monitor the implementation of regulations governing cross-border trade in services among GCC member states.
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