Italy's Meloni visits Norway to boost energy, critical minerals ties

ROME, Sept 17 (Reuters) - ‌Prime Minister ​Giorgia ​Meloni is making the first official visit by an Italian leader to Norway ‌in nearly 15 years on Thursday, seeking to ⁠deepen cooperation in areas including energy, critical minerals and ‌defence, Italian sources said.

Meloni ‌is due to meet Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere in Oslo and attend a ​dinner with business representatives from both countries aimed at promoting bilateral investment.

The trip is part ⁠of a broader effort to strengthen ties between Rome and Oslo, ​with a view to consolidating strategic cooperation in energy and expanding it into other ​sectors, the sources said.

Daily La ‌Stampa reported that the chief executives of defence group Leonardo and ship ⁠builder Fincantieri would accompany Meloni to Oslo.

As Italy seeks to diversify energy supplies amid market volatility linked to ⁠the U.S. conflict with Iran, Meloni has in recent ​months visited key gas-producing partners including Algeria and Azerbaijan to reinforce relations.

Norwegian energy group Vaar Energi is majority-owned by ‌Italy's Eni.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Meloni and Stoere ‌would also discuss major international issues, including Ukraine ⁠and developments in ‌the Arctic, which ​Rome sees as a "natural area" for closer cooperation.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian ‌Balmer)

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