Algerian Radio
The Prime Minister of the Italian Republic (President of the Council of Ministers), Ms. Giorgia Meloni, affirmed on Wednesday in Algiers that Algeria is a partner of "major strategic importance" to Italy, emphasizing that relations between the two countries have never been as "solid and effective" as they are today.
In a joint press statement with the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, following their talks at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Republic as part of her working and friendship visit to Algeria, Ms. Meloni noted that her second official visit to Algeria in less than four years—following her first visit, which marked her first bilateral mission to a North African country—demonstrates "the importance we attach to our relations with Algeria, which is, for Italy, a partner of major strategic importance."
The Italian official indicated that "the friendship between the two countries remains among the strongest and most exceptional relations, particularly in an international context marked by growing instability," specifying that the two nations have supported each other time and time again and have always been there for one another on various occasions.
After highlighting that her country has ensured this friendship grew "stronger over these years of working together with the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune," Ms. Meloni noted that "relations between the two countries have never been as solid and effective as they are today."
She added that "cooperation between Italy and Algeria has become a model to follow."
In this regard, she observed that the areas of cooperation between the two countries "are numerous and diversified, led by the energy sector," echoing the President of the Republic's remarks regarding the two countries' shared will to "strengthen their solid cooperation."
This cooperation, she continued, extends to the two leading national companies, ENI and Sonatrach, by working on "new prospects such as shale gas and offshore exploration," which will, in the medium and long term, make it possible to "strengthen gas supply flows from Algeria to Italy."
In this vein, the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic indicated that bilateral cooperation "also covers other areas we have been working on for some time, notably the development of renewable energies and the construction of strategic infrastructure." These are projects aimed at "connecting the two shores of the Mediterranean by enhancing interconnectivity and, consequently, energy security, thanks to the 'TransMed' project, commonly known as the Mattei gas pipeline, linking Italy to Algeria, which we are pursuing as part of a broader vision," she said.
Ms. Meloni considered that "energy constitutes an opportunity and a lever for achieving common development, both for producing countries, which leverage their resources to attain prosperity, and for consuming countries, which can rely on closer and more resilient supply chains in the face of external shocks." She clarified that this vision forms "the very essence of the activities and projects we are jointly implementing under the Mattei Plan for Africa."
Reaffirming that Algeria is "our most important partner," Ms. Meloni indicated that she and the President of the Republic had, during their talks, "evaluated the various launched projects and the progress level of the public-private initiative aimed at developing over 36,000 hectares of Saharan land for cereal and legume production." This project "is progressing at a steady pace," she said, announcing that during the 2026 planting campaign, the area put into production will increase from "7,000 hectares to 13,000 hectares of Saharan land."
Furthermore, Ms. Meloni stated that the talks also covered projects the two countries are working on, including the creation of a vocational training center in the agricultural sector dedicated to the memory of Enrico Mattei, and the establishment of an Algerian-Italian Chamber of Commerce, in order to mobilize all potential to enhance the production capacities of both countries.
She also announced preparations for holding an intergovernmental summit in Algeria "in the near future."
Official Visit of Pope Leo XIV to Algeria, a Major Historical Event
On the regional and international fronts, the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic praised Algeria's "pivotal role" in "promoting peace and stability in the Sahel and in the fight against terrorism," underscoring her country's commitment to supporting Algeria's efforts in this area.
Regarding the issue of irregular migration, the Italian official praised the efforts deployed by Algeria, under the leadership of the President of the Republic, to combat this phenomenon and tackle criminal human trafficking networks, describing cooperation between the two countries in this domain as "exemplary."
After underscoring the importance of strengthening human and cultural relations between the two countries, Ms. Meloni brought up the official visit that Pope Leo XIV is preparing to make to Algeria at the invitation of the President of the Republic. She described it as a "historical event" that "confirms Algeria plays an important role in bringing viewpoints closer and building bridges of cooperation between Europe and Africa."
Discussing the situation in Gaza, Ms. Meloni indicated that "the Palestinian people are living in extremely difficult conditions," calling to "work toward establishing peace and stability in Palestine, in accordance with international resolutions, and to support the two-state solution."
In the same context, the Italian official stressed the need to find a solution to the Western Sahara issue "in accordance with United Nations resolutions."
She also touched upon the current crisis in the Middle East, which she said has caused "catastrophic economic repercussions," emphasizing that her country wishes to see "a resumption of the negotiation process between Iran and the United States of America."
Furthermore, the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic called for "a just solution that ends the Russian-Ukrainian war and guarantees stability in the region."
