Italy–Qatar relations

Then Qatari Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani visited Italy on an official capacity in July 2005 and April 2012.{{cite web|url=https://ambdoha.esteri.it/ambasciata_doha/it/i_rapporti_bilaterali/cooperazione_politica|title=Cooperazione Politica|publisher=Italian Embassy in Doha|language=it|access-date=1 June 2018}}

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano became Italy's first-ever leader to visit Qatar in November 2007. He held discussions with Qatar's emir over Iran's nuclear program and ways in which to boost bilateral relations.{{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/italy-shares-qatar-s-concerns-over-iran-1.212340|title=Italy 'shares Qatar's concerns over Iran'|publisher=Gulf News|author=Barbara Bibbo'|date=14 November 2007|access-date=1 June 2018}}

A meeting was held between Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in November 2017 to discuss diplomatic relations and the recent Qatar diplomatic crisis.{{cite web|url=http://www.qatar-tribune.com/news-details/id/93641|title=Emir, Italian premier discuss bilateral relations, Gulf crisis|publisher=Qatar Tribune|date=2 November 2017|access-date=1 June 2018}}

On 14 June 2023, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the funeral of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi{{Cite news |last=Parodi |first=Emilio |last2=Piovaccari |first2=Giulio |date=14 June 2023 |title=Berlusconi's funeral: Ex-PM divides Italy even in death |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-bids-farewell-berlusconi-contested-day-mourning-2023-06-14/ |access-date=12 July 2023}}{{Cite web |title=HH the Amir Participates in Official Funeral of Former Italian Prime Minister |url=https://www.qna.org.qa/en/News-Area/News/2023-06/14/0058-hh-the-amir-participates-in-official-funeral-of-former-italian-prime-minister |access-date=12 July 2023 |website=www.qna.org.qa |language=en}} and described him as a friend of Qatar, who was invested in developing the bilateral relationship between the countries.{{Cite web |last= |date=14 June 2023 |title=Amir participates in funeral of Berlusconi, affirms he was friend of Qatar |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/article/662966/qatar/amir-participates-in-funeral-of-berlusconi-affirms-he-was-friend-of-qatar |access-date=12 July 2023 |website=Gulf Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=14 June 2023 |title=Amir affirms Italy's former Prime Minister was a friend of Qatar |url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/14/06/2023/amir-affirms-italys-former-prime-minister-was-a-friend-of-qatar |access-date=12 July 2023 |website=thepeninsulaqatar.com |language=en}}

Both countries opened embassies in each other's capitals in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://rome.embassy.qa/en/italy/qatar-italy-relations|title=Qatar-Italy Relations|publisher=Qatar Embassy in Rome|access-date=1 June 2018}}

They signed a technology and economy agreement in 1996.{{cite web|url=https://ambdoha.esteri.it/ambasciata_doha/it/i_r|title=Accordi bilaterali ITALIA - QATAR|publisher=Italian Embassy in Doha|language=it|access-date=1 June 2018}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar provided urgent medical assistance to Italy in April 2020. The Qatari Emiri Air Force delivered two field hospitals with a capacity of 1,000 beds equipped for treatment of people with COVID-19.{{Cite web|title=Covid-19: Qatar donates to Italy two field hospitals|url=https://ambdoha.esteri.it/ambasciata_doha/en/ambasciata/news/dall_ambasciata/covid-19-il-qatar-dona-all-italia.html|access-date=15 February 2022|website=ambdoha.esteri.it|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|date=8 April 2020|title=Italian envoy thanks Qatar for medical aid|url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/660290/Italian-envoy-thanks-Qatar-for-medical-aid|access-date=15 February 2022|website=Gulf-Times|language=}}

Trade turnover between Qatar and Italy have dropped in recent years. It was at its highest in 2012 when it reached €3.4 billion. By 2016, this figure decreased to €1.75 billion. This is attributed to less imports of Italian goods into Qatar and a lower demand of Qatari hydrocarbons by Italy, which constitute most of Qatar's exports to the country. Nonetheless, bilateral trade volume is still relatively high, with Italy being Qatar's 7th largest supplier.{{cite web|url=https://ambdoha.esteri.it/ambasciata_doha/it/i_rapporti_bilaterali/cooperazione_economica|title=Cooperazione economica|publisher=Italian Embassy in Doha|language=it|access-date=1 June 2018}}

In 2017, the value of Qatari investments in Italy was at roughly €2 billion and was mostly centered in Italy's tourism industry.{{cite web|url=https://mofa.gov.qa/en/all-mofa-news/details/2017/12/03/italian-ambassador-qatar-and-italy-partners-in-fight-against-terrorism|title=Italian Ambassador : Qatar and Italy "Partners in Fight Against Terrorism"|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Qatar)|date=3 December 2017|access-date=1 June 2018}}

On 23 October 2023, Italy’s Eni SpA signed a 27-year liquefied natural gas deal with QatarEnergy.{{Cite news |date=23 October 2023 |title=Eni and Qatar Sign 27-Year LNG Supply Deal for Italy |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-23/eni-and-qatar-sign-27-year-lng-supply-deal-for-italy |access-date=7 November 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Saba |first=Yousef |date=23 October 2023 |title=Qatar signs 27-year gas supply deal with Italy's Eni |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/qatar-signs-27-year-gas-supply-deal-with-italys-eni-2023-10-23/ |access-date=30 October 2023}}

Qatar is an important customer for Italy's defense industry. Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri reached a €4 billion agreement with Qatar's government in June 2016 to construct vessels for its navy. Also included in the deal were support services and construction of a dock. In August 2017, Qatar purchased seven navy ships from Italy at a cost of €5 billion.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/qatar-buying-7-navy-vessels-from-italy-for-591-billion-2017-8|title=Qatar is buying 7 navy vessels from Italy for $5.91 billion|publisher=Reuters|website=businessinsider.com|author=Aziz El Yaakoubi|date=2 August 2017|access-date=1 June 2018}} A massive deal was concluded between Qatar and defense company Leonardo S.p.A. in March 2018 in which Qatar would buy 28 NH90 helicopters along with flight simulators for these helicopters. Shortly after the deal, Qatar and Italy carried out joint naval exercises in the Persian Gulf.{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-03/18/c_137048077.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318141659/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-03/18/c_137048077.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 March 2018|title=Qatar, Italy launch joint naval drills to boost military ties|publisher=Xinhua|date=18 March 2018|access-date=1 June 2018}}

In 2024, Fincantieri signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar's BQ Solutions to develop Italian-led training programs for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces. The agreement, announced during the MILIPOL Qatar conference, builds on Fincantieri’s existing contract with Qatar, expanding training and operational support for Qatari naval personnel.{{Cite web |last=Stella |date=4 November 2024 |title=Fincantieri and BQ solutions sign MoU to advance naval education and training in Qatar |url=https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/11/04/fincantieri-and-bq-solutions-sign-mou-to-advance-naval-education-and-training-in-qatar/ |access-date=4 November 2024 |website=Cyprus Shipping News |language=en-US}}

Cultural collaboration agreements have been signed between the two countries first in January 2007, effective starting October 2011, and in January 2016, effective from 2016 to 2018.

The Italian Embassy in Doha is active in organizing cultural events in Qatar, mostly at the Katara Cultural Village. There was an Italian presence at both the 1st Katara European Jazz Festival and 2nd Katara European Jazz Festival in 2014 and 2015, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://ambdoha.esteri.it/ambasciata_doha/it/i_rapporti_bilaterali/cooperazione%20culturale|title=Cooperazione culturale|publisher=Italian Embassy in Doha|language=it|access-date=1 June 2018}} In January 2016, as part of the cultural collaboration agreement signed that month, the Italian Embassy hosted the "Pesci fuor d’acqua" (Fish Out of Water) photo gallery in Katara.{{cite web|url=http://www.katara.net/en/about-katara/news/fish-out-of-water-photo-gallery-inaugurated-at-katara|title="Fish Out of Water" Photo Gallery inaugurated at Katara|publisher=Katara|date=4 January 2016|access-date=1 June 2018|archive-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120101032/http://www.katara.net/en/about-katara/news/fish-out-of-water-photo-gallery-inaugurated-at-katara|url-status=dead}}

The Italian embassy is located in Doha.{{Cite web|title=Ambasciata d'Italia - Doha|url=https://ambdoha.esteri.it/ambasciata_doha/en|access-date=15 February 2022|website=ambdoha.esteri.it|language=en-gb}}

• Ambassador Alessandro Prunas{{Cite web|title=The Ambassador|url=https://ambdoha.esteri.it/ambasciata_doha/en/ambasciata/ambasciatore|access-date=15 February 2022|website=ambdoha.esteri.it|language=en-gb}}

The Qatari embassy is located in Rome.{{Cite web|title=Qatar Embassy in Rome - Italian Republic|url=https://rome.embassy.qa/en|access-date=15 February 2022}}

• Ambassador Abdul Aziz Ahmad Al-Maliki Juhani{{Cite web|title=About us|url=https://rome.embassy.qa/en/the-embassy/about-us|access-date=15 February 2022|website=Qatari Embassy in Rome}}

There are approximately 8,000 Italian citizens living in Qatar as of 2023.{{cite web|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/story/438836/Simply-Italian|title=Simply Italian|publisher=Gulf Times|date=11 May 2015|access-date=1 June 2018}}

==See also==

• Foreign relations of Italy
• Foreign relations of Qatar

{{Reflist}}

• [https://ambdoha.esteri.it/ambasciata_doha/it/ Embassy of Italy in Doha]
• [http://rome.embassy.qa/en Embassy of the State of Qatar in Rome]

{{Foreign relations of Italy}}

{{Foreign relations of Qatar}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Italy-Qatar relations}}

Qatar

Italy