Italy’s Meloni visits Norway to boost energy, critical minerals ties

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is embarking on her first official visit to Norway in nearly 15 years, aiming to bolster cooperation across various domains including energy, critical minerals, and defence. Meloni is scheduled to meet with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere in Oslo, along with a dinner for business representatives from both nations to foster bilateral investment.

This trip is part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties between Italy and Norway, with the goal of deepening strategic cooperation in energy and extending it into other sectors.

According to Italian sources, defence conglomerate Leonardo and shipbuilder Fincantieri will accompany Meloni to Oslo. Italy has been seeking to diversify its energy sources amidst market fluctuations caused by tensions with Iran. To this end, Meloni has recently traveled to energy-rich nations such as Algeria and Azerbaijan to enhance relations.

It is reported that the Norwegian energy firm Vaar Energi, which is majority-owned by Italian energy company Eni, will also be a key point of discussion during Meloni's visit. The sources, who wished to remain anonymous, indicated that Meloni and Stoere will explore major global issues, such as the situation in Ukraine and developments in the Arctic, which Rome views as a promising area for enhanced collaboration.