The global gas market is tense as a result of the Middle East conflict, which has significantly delayed ship traffic delivering gas through the Strait of Hormuz and forced several Gulf countries to suspend production owing to the strikes. Among these countries, Qatar is the largest exporter of LNG (liquefied natural gas), which travels by sea in liquid form and is regasified at its destination in regasification plants. It is a major supplier to various European countries; in 2024, about 11% of Qatari exports traveled to Europe. Italy purchased nearly as much LNG as all of Europe combined. While Italy receives a small percentage of Qatar's LNG exports, Qatar is far more important to Italy: in 2025, it will account for 10% of all imported gas and 35% of imported LNG, a share equivalent to that supplied by the United States.