- Meloni begins Asia tour to deepen Italy’s political, economic ties.
- Visits include Oman, Japan, and South Korea for diplomacy and trade.
- Focus on strategic partnerships, tech cooperation, and security.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has launched a diplomatic tour of the Asian continent as part of efforts to develop political, economic, and technological partnerships for Italy within the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific regions.
This diplomatic visit is scheduled to run until January 19th, 2026, with destinations including Oman, Japan, as well as South Korea.
The tour kicked off in Muscat, Oman, where Meloni engaged in discussions with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, which covered improving political and economic dialogue, as well as increasing cooperation in areas like defense, justice, culture, education, and research.
Issues related to regional matters, including those experienced in Iran and Yemen, as well as the Middle East, also made it to the agenda to further rebuild Italy’s positioning as a constructive player in the region.
Meloni also visited Tokyo, where she held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as their countries celebrate the 160th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. They will sign a joint declaration which will give the Italy-Japan relationship a Special Strategic Partnership status through the Italy-Japan Action Plan for the years 2024-2027.
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The matters raised during the negotiations include economic cooperation, industry, technology, as well as their joint views on geographical issues related to the Indo-Pacific region, the crisis in Ukraine, and stability within the Middle East. Italian businesses also continue to increase their interests in Japan, ranging from cars to consumer products.
This visit for Meloni will conclude in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, as she holds a bilateral state visit with President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea. This is the first visit of an Italian premier in the past two decades.
This is a significant visit since South Korea is one of the leading trade partners of Italy in the continent of Asia. Rome is eager to develop cordial relationships in the fields of high-tech sectors.
Overall, Meloni’s Asia tour signals Italy’s ambition to act as a pragmatic global player bridging Indo-Pacific and Middle Eastern interests, enhancing strategic alliances, and boosting industrial cooperation.