In March 2019, Italy became the first G7 nation to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), led by then-prime minister Mario Draghi and the Five Star Movement. However, before she had even been appointed as Italian prime minister in October 2021, Georgia Meloni had declared that Italy would withdraw from the BRI.
To express her strong stance of Italy returning to the West, she called for supporting Taiwan and had her photograph taken with the head of the Taiwanese representative office in Rome, Andrea Lee (李新穎).
Meloni upholds Atlanticism and knows that Italy’s participation in the BRI would only increase its trade deficit with China, which would be contrary to her country’s interests. In addition to avoiding a widening trade imbalance with China, Meloni’s move shows that she has been deliberating Italy’s foreign policy strategy.
As the only G7 nation to join the BRI, Italy’s withdrawal is a clear indication of the Meloni government’s stance, and particularly that of her political party, Brothers of Italy. During an interview in April with EURACTIV, the party’s Carlo Fidanza, a member of the European Parliament, said that Italy’s infrastructure and strategic products must not be taken by foreigners, especially by the Chinese. Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, one of the founding members of Brothers of Italy, criticized the decision to join the BRI, saying it is “improvized and brutal.”
He repeatedly asked the Italian government to reverse the decision. By September, Meloni’s policy on the BRI was already clear. After the G20 summit it was reported that Italian officials had been “invited” to participate in a BRI Forum.
However, no Italians attended the forum. Instead, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani traveled to Beijing for talks. During the G20 summit, Meloni informed Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強) that Italy would withdraw from the BRI.
Meloni’s strategy of distancing Italy from China is to enhance another of her diplomatic initiatives, the Mattei Plan for Africa. At the G20 summit, Meloni met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time when China and India are still in a territorial dispute. She praised India’s success in hosting the summit and advocated, alongside India, for African nations’ G20 membership. She celebrated India as an ideal leader for the Global South while encouraging more countries to join Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa. By supporting Africa, Meloni could solve Italy’s energy and migration problems.
Meloni considers Beijing a rival to Italian interests in Africa and hence is attempting to collaborate with India. Her move from the BRI demonstrates a clear stance for the West and India.
She aims to bring Europe, the US and India into the Mattei Plan so that they can manage Africa together. In doing so, Italy would be able to protect the Mediterranean and play a critical role in bringing African energy to the EU.
Italian foreign policy initiative will proceed in accordance with the EU’s definition of China as a “systematic competitor,” while maintaining mild relations with Beijing. Meloni would make her decisions based on these two principles. In addition, it is likely that her Atlanticism will strengthen.
Taiwan has turned to Italy and the two have established friendly relations, as confirmed by the establishment of a representative office in Milan. Looking for the next breakthrough should be on the government’s agenda.
Chang Meng-jen is chair of Fu Jen Catholic University’s Department of Italian Language and Culture, and coordinator of the university’s diplomacy and international affairs program.
Translated by Emma Liu
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