Italy’s PM Meloni visits Baku to reinforce key energy links

EuroNews · 🇫🇷 public France · May 05, 2026 · 638 words · By Saida Rustamova; Esmira Aliyeva

Energy security Bilateral Diplomacy Geopolitical Stability

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What to know about Energy security

During her visit to Baku, the Italian premier said she wanted Azerbaijan to strengthen its role as an energy hub between Europe and Asia, with Italy serving as "the privileged gateway to the European market." In the first visit to Azerbaijan by an Italian…

Claims checked 16

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center88%

Right12%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

"The more instability grows around us, the more important it is to strengthen the certainties we have — and the relationship between Italy and Azerbaijan is certainly one of those certainties," Meloni said at a joint press conference with President Ilham…

Common ground

The visit comes as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed Rome to secure alternative energy supplies and deepen ties with reliable partners outside the Middle East.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Energy security story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Bilateral trade reached €10.2 billion last year, making Italy Azerbaijan's largest commercial partner?
How does this story connect Energy security with Bilateral Diplomacy over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.euronews.com/2026/05/05/italys-pm-meloni-visits-baku-to-reinforce-ke…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 70% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Glittering Generalities 60% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 16 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 6

info Single Source 5

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified By Reference 1

check_circle Corroborated 1

verified Verified 1

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Claim 1: “Bilateral trade reached €10.2 billion last year, making Italy Azerbaijan's largest commercial partner.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding the specific bilateral trade figure of €10.2 billion or Italy being Azerbaijan's largest commercial partner.

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Claim 2: “Annual deliveries have been stable in recent years: 9.69 bcm in 2022, 9.37 bcm in 2023, 9.76 bcm in 2024 and 9.46 bcm in 2025.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence contains general gas output data for Europe and Iran, but does not list the specific annual delivery figures for TAP in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

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web search NEUTRAL — From January to November 2024, the aggregated gas output in Europe stood at the level of 171.3 bcm (Figure 46), representing an uptick of 3.6%, when compared with the same period in 2023, and was also…
https://www.gecf.org/Portals/0/xBlog/uploads/2025/5/12/mgmr-…

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web search NEUTRAL — In 2024 Iran exported around 7 bcm of natural gas to Türkiye, accounting for around 13% of the country’s total primary gas supply. According to the Energy Ministry of Türkiye, piped gas deliveries fro…
https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/119378b2-8d56-49c7-…

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web search NEUTRAL — In 2022/2023 it still produced 2.4 bcm to alleviate the impact of the Russian supply disruption. Groningen reserves are estimated in 480 bcm.Equivalent gas savings (Additional to FitFor 55). 37 bcm.
https://www.acer.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Pub…

info

Claim 3: “Aliyev said Azerbaijan exported 25 billion cubic metres of natural gas last year, of which 7.5 billion went to Italy”

SINGLE SOURCE

One source mentions 7.5 bcm exported to Europe in Jan-July, but the specific claim regarding 25 bcm total and 7.5 bcm specifically to Italy for the 'last year' is not corroborated by the provided search results.

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web search NEUTRAL — Of this extra 1.2 bcm, one billion cubic metres will go to Italy, and the remaining 200 million cubic metres will be delivered to Albania.Full capacity - ceiling 20 bcm/year, which represents double t…
https://www.azernews.az/analysis/257824.html

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web search NEUTRAL — Türkiye has agreed to a new long-term natural gas supply deal with Azerbaijan for a total of 33 billion cubic meters (bcm), scheduled to begin in 2029 and span 15 years, Energy and Natural Resources M…
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/business/turkiye-azerbaijan-to-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Azerbaijan exported 7.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas to Europe over the first seven months of the year, up from 6.6 bcm in the same period last year, the energy ministry said on Friday.
https://www.naturalgasworld.com/azerbaijan-supplies-7.5-bcm-…

schedule

Claim 4: “Azerbaijan had provided full support for the evacuation of Italian citizens from Iran after the war broke out in February.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 5: “Italy has temporarily relocated its embassy in Iran from Tehran to Baku”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 6: “Recent upgrades to a compressor station in Greece added 1.2 bcm of annual capacity.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding upgrades to a compressor station in Greece adding 1.2 bcm of capacity.

schedule

Claim 7: “Around 30 Italian companies are operating in Azerbaijan, with 23 Italian projects under way in Karabakh.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 8: “The pipeline has maintained 100% system availability since operations began.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While sources confirm the pipeline's operation and purpose, none of the provided evidence explicitly mentions a '100% system availability' record.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Trans Adriatic Pipeline is part of the Southern Gas Corridor, transporting natural gas to Europe from the Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan. Read more Read less.
https://www.tap-ag.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — Trans-Adriatic Gas Pipeline is a gas pipeline running from Greece's border with Turkey to Italy, via Albania and the Adriatic Sea. The pipeline is part of the Southern Gas Corridor, along with South C…
https://www.gem.wiki/Trans-Adriatic_Gas_Pipeline

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) transports Caspian natural gas from the Shah Deniz II field to Europe. TAP is a Transmission System Operator (TSO) and an Independent Transmission Operator (ITO), pro…
https://al.linkedin.com/company/trans-adriatic-pipeline-tap-…

verified

Claim 9: “Expanding capacity would require enlarging the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, the final leg of the Southern Gas Corridor that carries Azerbaijani gas across Turkey, Greece and Albania into southern Italy.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and multiple other sources explicitly confirm that TAP is the final leg of the Southern Gas Corridor transporting gas from Azerbaijan through Greece and Albania to Italy.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Trans Adriatic Pipeline is a natural gas pipeline operational since 2020, running from Greece through Albania and the Adriatic Sea to Italy. It is the final section of the Southern Gas Corridor or…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_Adriatic_Pipeline

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). Search through website.The Trans Adriatic Pipeline is part of the Southern Gas Corridor, transporting natural gas to Europe from the Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan.
https://www.tap-ag.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Trans Adriatic Pipeline, the final leg of a gas mega-project spanning seven countries across the European continent, starts commercial operations.TAP facts and figures. TAP is 878 kilometres in le…
https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/ene…

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Claim 10: “covering around 16% of Italy's total gas demand in 2025 and roughly a quarter of its pipeline imports excluding liquefied natural gas”

CORROBORATED

Two separate sources mention the 16% figure: one explicitly linking 9.5 bcm in 2025 to 16% of Italy's total annual gas consumption, and another mentioning Azerbaijan accounts for about 16% of Italy's total gas imports.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The TAP pipeline, bringing Azeri gas to Italy across Greece and Albania, has become reality.Volumes heading to Italy (approximately 8.5 bcm/y) will represent around 12% of the national demand for gas;…
https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/interview/tap…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — TAP will facilitate gas supplies to South Eastern European countries through prospective interconnectors. In particular, Bulgaria will be able to cover up to 33% of its total gas demand through TAP af…
https://www.tap-ag.com/news/news-stories/tap-transports-firs…

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web search NEUTRAL — Algerian gas deliveries to Europe are also on the rise—even before the war began. Last year, Algeria exported a total 39-40 billion cu m of natural gas via pipeline and as LNG. That represented 13 to …
https://in.investing.com/analysis/natural-gas-demand-weaknes…

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Claim 11: “Azerbaijan has invested €2.5 billion in Italy to date.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 12: “Italy is the top EU importer of energy from Azerbaijan.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Evidence from ECCO states Azerbaijan is Italy's second largest gas supplier and accounts for 16% of imports, but it does not explicitly confirm Italy is the 'top EU importer' compared to other EU nations.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The economy of Azerbaijan is highly dependent on oil and gas exports, in particular since the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline. The transition to oil production in the late 1990s led to …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Azerbaijan

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Azerbaijan is Italy’s second largest gas supplier after Algeria, accounting for about 16% of Italy’s total gas imports. The desire to expand energy cooperation between the two countries passes through…
https://eccoclimate.org/energy-relations-between-italy-and-a…

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web search NEUTRAL — The largest LNG importers in the EU are: France. Spain. Italy. the Netherlands.Why is gas so important for the EU and for Europeans? Gas is mainly used for power generation, household heating and indu…
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/where-does-t…

schedule

Claim 13: “Both sides confirmed plans for a Business Forum in Baku in the second half of 2026”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 14: “TAP has delivered 47.5 billion cubic metres of gas to Italy since commercial operations began”

VERIFIED

Luca Schieppati, TAP managing director, explicitly stated to Euronews that the pipeline has delivered over 47.5 bcm of natural gas to Italy since commercial operations began.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In 2025, the Trans Adriatic Pipeline delivered 9.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Italy – accounting for roughly 16 percent of Italy's total annual gas consumption requirements…
https://www.azernews.az/analysis/257824.html

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Luca Schieppati, TAP managing director, told Euronews that since the start of commercial operations, it has delivered over 47.5 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas to Italy.
https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/04/17/rome-and-caucas…

info

Claim 15: “In the first visit to Azerbaijan by an Italian premier in 13 years, Italy's Giorgia Meloni said on Monday”

SINGLE SOURCE

Web search results confirm Giorgia Meloni is the current PM and that a visit to Azerbaijan was expected/planned, but the specific detail that this is the first visit in 13 years is not corroborated by the provided evidence.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Giorgia Meloni. (Italian: [ˈdʒordʒa meˈloːni]; born 15 January 1977) is an Italian politician who has served as Prime Minister of Italy since October 2022. She is the first woman to hold the office an…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgia_Meloni

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit Azerbaijan in the coming weeks, marking a further step in bilateral engagement between the two countries, The Caspian Post reports via Eurone…
https://caspianpost.com/azerbaijan/italian-pm-to-visit-azerb…

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web search NEUTRAL — Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister and leader of a party with neo-fascist origins, was greeted during a speech in Rimini with some delegates singing the ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ5CoZVRZew

schedule

Claim 16: “The Italian prime minister's visit comes after European Council President Antonio Costa's trip to Baku”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.