Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has just landed in Jeddah, will meet with the region’s top leaders over two days, visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, her office said Friday.

This is the first visit by a Western leader to the region, a crucial oil sector, since the start of the conflict in Iran.

The Prime Minister’s surprise mission is aimed, among other things, at strengthening national energy security.

The goal of the mission, sources at Palazzo Chigi explain, is also to “strengthen relations” with these Gulf nations and “reaffirm Italy’s support in the face of Iranian attacks, while consolidating an increasingly solid strategic partnership.”