Italy has underlined its readiness to expand defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia in a way that fully aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, particularly in the localization of military industries and the development of skills and capabilities, revealed Italian Ambassador to Riyadh Carlo Baldocci.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Baldocci said Italian companies are already engaged with Saudi partners across several advanced systems, including naval platforms, helicopter technology, cyber-defense and sophisticated surveillance systems.
He stressed that Italy sees growing opportunities in supporting the Kingdom’s plans to build its defense industrial base.
Baldocci credited last year’s meeting in AlUla between Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as the catalyst for the rapid expansion in bilateral cooperation.
The signing of a strategic partnership agreement during that meeting, he said, has accelerated joint work in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, culture, innovation and defense.
His comments come days before the Saudi-Italian Investment and Business Forum is set to be held in Riyadh next week. The event is expected to attract more than 500 Italian companies aiming to establish sustainable industrial and investment partnerships in the Kingdom.
According to Baldocci, the AlUla agreement has already produced “remarkable progress in record time.” He said that agreements worth over 10 billion euros reflect the depth and seriousness of the new phase of relations.
More importantly, he added, institutional dialogue between the two countries has become more regular and structured, which creates the level of trust necessary for long-term planning.
The ambassador stressed that Italy is fully prepared to support the defense sector goals laid out in Vision 2030. Italian companies, he said, offer internationally recognized expertise in naval systems, helicopter production, electronic and cyber-defense and advanced surveillance technologies.
He highlighted the Italian Industry Days held recently in Riyadh, organized in coordination with the defense ministries of both countries. The event served as a platform for Italian manufacturers to showcase their capabilities and explore practical pathways for collaboration, including joint training, industrial development and localization of production.
Baldocci said both sides are committed to developing these opportunities over time.
The ambassador noted that strengthening coordination between government agencies and the private sector is now essential to advance major bilateral projects.
The upcoming Saudi-Italian forum, scheduled for Nov. 25-26, is as an important milestone that will help transform the strategic partnership into tangible industrial cooperation, joint investment and deeper institutional dialogue through specialized sessions and direct business meetings, he remarked.
He further said Vision 2030 has created an investment environment that aligns strongly with Italy’s industrial strengths, especially in infrastructure, mobility and large-scale development.
He pointed to expanding cooperation in renewable energy, hydrogen production, electricity grid modernization and energy efficiency, noting that Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global hub for green hydrogen presents significant opportunities for joint investment, particularly for supplying Europe.
Cooperation is also growing in advanced technologies, with the Kingdom heavily investing in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors and smart-city solutions, areas in which Italy holds competitive capabilities, he went on to say.
Baldocci said Italian exports to Saudi Arabia have risen across nearly all major categories, reaching 6.2 billion euros last year, a 28 percent increase, driven by the Kingdom’s major investments and Italy’s inclusion of Saudi Arabia as a priority market in its National Export Plan.
Improved business conditions and expanding institutional dialogue are helping accelerate trade and investment between both nations, he added.
