Salvini supported the 2017–18 Saudi-led blockade of Qatar prior to taking office on the grounds that Qatar funded terrorism.[174] Upon becoming Deputy Prime Minister, he also praised Saudi Arabia as "an element of stability and reliability both in bilateral relations and as an actor in the more general Middle Eastern chessboard", and pledged to expand security, economic, commercial and cultural ties with the Kingdom.[175] However, he later reversed his stance, praising Qatar for its "balance" as opposed to Saudi Arabian "extremism"[176] and encouraged Qatari investment in Italy,[177] while opposing Saudi investment proposals in Italy[163] and condemning the decision to host the Supercoppa Italiana final in Saudi Arabia as "disgusting".[178]