Al -Watan – private
Wide defensive cooperation that includes joint military manufacturing and technology transfer
An agreement to work together to develop smart and sustainable city projects
Manama and Rome agree to raise the trade exchange to more than a billion euros annually
The Italian Navy Command «CTF-154) in Manama as part of its commitment to the security of regional navigation
The visit reflects a Bahraini vision for new and balanced strategic partnerships
Renewable energy projects and environmental transformation established sustainable development in the two countries
The official visit to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Prime Minister to the Italian Republic, is a detailed station in developing economic relations between the two countries. The visit resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a strategic investment partnership of more than one billion euros, with the aim of enhancing trade and investment exchange between Bahrain and Italy.
This partnership comes in the context of a noticeable growth of bilateral trade exchange, which amounted to about 298 million euros in the first half of 2025, with an annual increase approaching 17%.
This reflects the joint trend to push inter -trade into horizons that exceed the barrier of one billion euros annually in light of the intensification of economic cooperation.
The joint statement stressed that this investment partnership will enhance economic relations, and increase the volume of trade between the two countries with an obligation to pump investments exceeding one billion euros, and includes cooperation in vital sectors such as the energy sector and defense industries.
There is no doubt that Italy – as one of the largest European economies and a prominent member of the European Union – is a pivotal partner for Bahrain in its efforts to diversify its economy and attract investments, benefiting from Italy’s industrial and technical experiences, and from its arrival in European markets.
Manama also views Rome as a strategic gate towards the European Union, especially in light of the political, economic and growing role of Italy in Italy.
This economic step reflects the Bahrain 2030 vision that seeks sustainable development and a varied economy, and demonstrates mutual trust with Italy in building long -term commercial and investment partnerships that benefit both parties.
Defense and industrial cooperation
Defense and military cooperation emerged as one of the most important axes of the visit of His Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister to Rome. Bahrain and Italy have agreed to strengthen their defensive partnership based on the military and industrial levels, including expanding the horizons of joint military manufacturing and the transfer of technology and expertise.
The Italian side expressed its thanks for the hosting of Bahrain, the Italian Navy unit at the headquarters of the Joint Navy (CMF) command in the Kingdom, which reflects mutual confidence and strategic partnership in preserving the security of international marine corridors.
Bahrain is the headquarters of the Joint Navy Command, which includes more than 46 countries, including Italy, which plays an active role in enhancing regional maritime security and fighting piracy and maritime terrorism.
The Italian navy recently received the leadership of one of the multinational naval task force (CTF-154) in Manama, confirming Rome’s commitment to the security of the Gulf and the stability of its navigational paths.
In terms of defense industries, this visit provides opportunities to discuss joint projects in the fields of military manufacturing in the future, with Bahrain benefiting from Italian progress in air and maritime defense technologies and military electronics.
Defense cooperation between Bahrain and Italy is extremely important in light of the security challenges in the region, starting from securing navigation in the Gulf to coordination in combating terrorism and organized crime. The partnership with a country the size of Italy (NATO member) also adds a strategic depth of Bahrain’s defense capabilities.
Energy and environmental transformation
The fields of energy, environmental transformation and sustainable development were a major axis within the agenda of bilateral talks, due to the increasing importance of these sectors globally. Bahrain and Italy have shown common attention to deepening cooperation in the energy sector in a way that supports the transformation into clean and sustainable sources.
Italy has extensive experiences in the fields of renewable energy such as sun, wind and energy efficiency technologies, which meets Bahrain’s aspirations within its economic vision to diversify the energy mix and reduce emissions. Indeed, the last period witnessed a remarkable cooperation, including the contribution of Italian companies to the project to update the Bahrain refinery (Bapco) to raise its productive and environmental efficiency, as well as the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the National Sustainable Energy Authority in Bahrain and the Italian company Technip Energies in preparation for joint projects in the areas of maritime exploration on gas, marine wind energy and green hydrogen production.
In the context of the environmental transformation, Bahrain seeks to benefit from Italian experience in the fields of water management and waste and promote green infrastructure, as Italy is famous for its advanced technologies in water treatment, recycling and circular economy solutions.
New partnerships are expected to contribute to the development of waste management systems in Bahrain, including waste conversion techniques into energy, and improving water efficiency through modern technologies in desalination and reushing, taking advantage of the experiences of leading Italian companies in these areas.
The two sides also agreed to work together to develop smart and sustainable city projects, especially in the construction, transport and tourism sectors. Smart cities require an integration between infrastructure and modern technology, which Italy excelled by integrating engineering and urban design with digital solutions.
Bahraini-Italian cooperation in this regard would support efforts to establish sustainable modern cities in the Kingdom, based on clean energy and facilities management efficiently, and enhance the quality of citizens ’life. In addition, Italy and Bahrain have confirmed their intention to work together in the fields of research, industrial innovation and technical knowledge.
Understanding on regional and international issues
In the midst of the complex political developments taking place in the world, the meeting of His Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister of the Italian leadership, came to highlight the consensus in the visions regarding the most prominent regional and international issues.
The two sides affirmed their commitment to joint work to bring peace and stability in the Middle East region, and stressed the resolution of disputes through diplomatic and dialogue in line with the principles of international legitimacy.
In the forefront of these issues, the Palestinian issue and the consequences of the crisis in Gaza, where a unified Bahraini-Italian position calling for the immediate endowment of the war in Gaza and the urgent release of all the hostile hostages. Manama and Rome also condemned any unilateral measures or violence in the occupied West Bank that would undermine the chances of a two -state solution.
The matter did not stop there.
Regarding the Syrian state, Italy and Bahrain reaffirmed the unity, sovereignty of Syria and its territorial integrity, and expressed their support for the efforts of economic recovery and reconstruction there. The two parties also stressed the importance of international work to ensure voluntary, safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees to their homes.
Regarding the Iranian nuclear file, Bahrain and Italy stressed the importance of Iran’s commitment to the Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) and all its legal obligations accordingly. The two countries also renewed their support for diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive peaceful solution to this file.
This common position reflects Manama’s concern and Rome from the serious repercussions of any nuclear escalation in the Middle East, and their keenness to support peaceful solutions through international cooperation.
On the broader international level, Italy and Bahrain have agreed to continue their efforts to bring a fair and lasting peace in Ukraine as soon as possible.
Italy also affirmed its support for Bahrain’s efforts in international forums, congratulating the Kingdom for its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2026-2027, reflecting the confidence of the international community in the constructive role played by Bahraini diplomacy regionally and globally.
The visions of the two countries meet on the importance of pluralism and work within the framework of the United Nations to face global challenges, from the issues of climate change and food security to fighting terrorism and illegal immigration.
Space, food security, customs, and banking agreements
The visit of His Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister to Rome, resulted in a package of memoranda of understanding and bilateral agreements that cover a wide range of vital sectors, which reflects the common will to open new horizons for cooperation.
The two sides welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of space science between the Bahrain Space Agency and its counterpart, the Italian Space Agency, with the aim of enhancing cooperation in space science and technology and its applications.
This memorandum aims to exchange scientific knowledge and provide opportunities for training and joint research, in order to support Bahrain’s aspirations to build its capabilities within the emerging space sector.
This space cooperation would allow the Kingdom to benefit from Italian experiences, especially since Italy is a member of the European Space Agency and has ancient programs in exploring space and its commercial applications.
In the food security sector, the two parties agreed on the relentless pursuit to enhance cooperation to ensure sustainable and safe food supply chains. The focus was on encouraging partnerships in the areas of modern agricultural technologies such as water and smart agriculture, and on the development of food industries and improving the quality of local production.
With regard to customs cooperation, the last period witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the customs of the customs in the two countries with the aim of facilitating the movement of trade and exchanging technical expertise.
In the context of following up the outputs of this memo, during the visit, the two parties agreed to work more closely in the main customs fields to support the smooth flow of international trade and promote the national economy.
Mechanisms were also established to establish a joint technical committee to coordinate best customs practices, implement programs to build customs cadres capabilities and organize mutual study visits.
In the banking and financial field, it has been agreed to advance cooperation between financial institutions in the two countries through a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing the exchange of experiences in the banking sector.
In the financial sector, the visit carried a qualitative boost for banking cooperation between the two countries, where an agreement was signed between the National Bank of Bahrain and the Italian BPM Bank, aiming to enhance the bilateral banking partnership in the fields of trade and investment.
Bahrain and the Vatican: a religious and humanitarian dialogue platform
His Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, culminated in his visit to the Italian Republic, by heading to a state present in the Vatican, in a move that carries deep religious and humanitarian implications. His Highness met His Holiness Pope (Liu XIV) in the Vatican, to emphasize the firm Bahraini approach to the extension of bridges of communication between religions and cultures.
The relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Holy See constitute a pioneering model for cooperation based on common human values, which aims to consolidate the culture of coexistence, tolerance and dialogue between various religions.
This vision laid the foundations of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of the Kingdom of Bahrain, who is mostly since the beginning of his reign, supported by an active role of His Highness the Crown Prince in making Bahrain a regional and global beacon for peace and understanding between civilizations.
In this context, the visit of His Highness the Crown Prince to the Vatican comes to add a new dimension to the distinguished relations between Bahrain and the Holy See, as His Highness continued during his meeting with His Holiness the Pope to strengthen the march of cooperation to serve the high principles of peace and human coexistence that the two sides believe in.
The Vatican praised Bahrain’s historical role in respecting the religious pluralism and its embrace of various beliefs, and the leading Bahraini initiatives in promoting dialogue between the followers of religions.
The Kingdom, under the direction of its leadership, established several initiatives in this regard, most notably the King Hamad International Center for peaceful coexistence and the King Hamad Chair Program for Interfaith Dialogue at the University of “La Sabinza” in Rome, as well as hosting prominent international activities as the Forum of East and West Dialogue for Human Coexistence.
The human and religious dimension of this visit highlights the image of Bahrain as a state of peace and openness, which combines religious and cultural diversity in the fabric of its comprehensive society, and presents itself as a bridge that meets East and West at a time of division and conflicts.
There is no doubt that strengthening relations with the Vatican contributes to the transfer of Bahrain’s civilized message to the world, and enhances its soft power as a country that adopts the dialogue of civilizations as a steady approach to its external policy.
Facing global challenges
In light of the deep political, economic and security transformations that the world is witnessing today, the outputs of the visit of His Highness the Crown Prince to Italy and the Vatican present the importance of betting on reliable partners in Europe to keep pace with these transformations.
The world is going through a historical turn; Punished energy crises while seeking to shift to the green economy, geopolitical tensions from Ukraine to the Middle East, and disturbances in global supply chains and food security.
In front of these challenges, Bahrain realizes the necessity of documenting its links with the major international powers to ensure the protection of its interests and enhance its economic and security flexibility.
Italy comes at the forefront of these friendly powers, as it is a pivotal state in the European Union and the Group of Seven, and it has an influential presence in the Middle East.
The visit reflected a long -term Bahraini vision based on open and balanced strategic partnerships. Through partnership with Italy, Bahrain has gained additional momentum in the path of diversifying its economy through European investments and pumping advanced technology into its development projects.
It also strengthened its national security by documenting cooperation with a reliable international ally in the defensive and security fields, capable of contributing to the stability of the region.
On the diplomatic level, the visit carried very important political messages that Bahrain is proceeding with a policy based on moderation, dialogue and building bridges.
Manama has succeeded in forming a wide network of international partnerships that extend from Washington and London in the east to Rome and the Vatican in the west.
This historic visit has confirmed that Bahrain and Italy stand together to face the current global challenges in the spirit of partnership and mutual trust. In conclusion, the visit of His Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister to Rome and the Vatican, drew the features of a new chapter for Bahraini-Italian relations based on a renewed partnership and a participatory vision for the future, in order to accommodate international variables and respond to them with more cooperation and coordination, and set firm foundations for sustainable economic progress and permanent regional peace.
Thus, Bahrain demonstrates that it has an active global presence and a audible voice in the fields of politics, economics and human dialogue, based on wise diplomacy and a leadership vision that looks forward to the future.
