Italian oil and gas group Eni said it would partner with ADNOC on energy transition projects as the new government in Rome works to rebuild relations with the UAE. Following a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni said mutual trust was now being re-established and that future cooperation could range from energy to defence.

Italy's historically strong relationship with the UAE has encountered serious difficulties in recent years. Italy stopped selling thousands of missiles to Saudi Arabia and the UAE in 2021, citing Rome's commitment to restoring peace in Yemen. The UAE in turn demanded that Italy withdraw from a military base in the Gulf.

State-controlled Eni said it would explore opportunities with ADNOC in renewable energy, blue and green hydrogen and carbon dioxide capture and storage. The companies will also work to reduce greenhouse gas and methane gas emissions, as well as conventional natural gas flaring.

Italy signed a statement of intent with Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE's climate envoy and designated chair of the COP28 climate summit, who last month committed to developing an inclusive and innovative roadmap to combat global warming. We found our partners to be very open and focused on the priorities on our agenda, Meloni said.

Meloni said the UAE had a particular interest in Italy's energy policy in Africa, discussing it alongside topics such as stability in Libya and the financial situation in Tunisia, which have implications for migration flows. I think there's a strong will on both sides to restore not only a good but a great relationship, a friendship, which I think is very important to our national interest.Editor/XingWentao