By: C Shraddha
The post-World War II period saw the importance of Italy in the European context. The early 1950s witnessed the efforts of countries towards the integration of Europe, a project which was constantly backed by the Italian government. However, widespread political instability, fragile administrative structure and substandard policy coordination sabotaged Italy’s participation compared to the contributions of Germany or France. Despite this, Italy showcased its commitment towards economic and political integration by becoming one of the six founding members of the European Community (EC). The country’s commitment was rooted in the recognition that European integration would facilitate its alignment with the Western Bloc, thus ensuring its security and economic opportunity.
For Italy, the European Community was a platform for political and economic modernisation within which the country could enhance its domestic position. The initial domestic hostility towards integration within the country faded in the face of these newfound opportunities. From the mid-1970s, opinion surveys undertaken expressed the strong and consistent consensus built within the Italian public in favour of unifying Western Europe and extending cooperation. The country remained at the forefront in favouring actions towards a unified political and economic European Union.
At every crucial point in the process of European integration, Italy constantly advocated for the improvement of European institutions and wider policy coordination at the EU level. In 1970, Italy proposed a federal union in support of direct elections to the European parliament and a rise in the power of the parliament members. Similarly, Italy was at the forefront in campaigning for reforms such as the Single European Act of 1985, the Maastricht Treaty of 1991 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997.
Italy’s dedication to European integration can be perceived through its efforts to stabilise and integrate the Western Balkans into the European political and economic system. The region of the West Balkans, comprising Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo, underwent border disputes, ethnic rivalries, political tensions, foreign influence and instability, making their accession to the EU a painstaking process. However, institutions such as the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII) and the Central European Initiative (CEI), endorsed and supported by Italy, spearheaded the process while maintaining the regional balance.
The country’s importance in Europe also stems from its geographical position, allowing it to act as a bridge between Europe, Africa and West Asia. During the Italy-Africa Summit, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated the country’s efforts to establish and strengthen ties. She expressed, “Italy is making a precise foreign policy choice, which will lead to giving Africa a place of honour on the agenda of our G7 presidency.” The conference focused on the Mattei Plan, which was instituted to “reflect Italy’s commitment to fostering development and cooperation across Africa.” PM Meloni defined the plan as a “new approach to Africa” while stressing Italy’s aim to internationalise and Europeanise the Mattei Plan, thus inadvertently acting as a link between Europe and Africa.
Italy’s role in the international sphere depicts its ability to balance its desires of European integration while expanding its Mediterranean ambitions. Regardless of the country’s volatile domestic politics and changing governments, Italy’s governments have maintained their Mediterranean orientation. Furthermore, the country’s Mediterranean stance has altered its perception in the eyes of the United States of America as well as the EU states. Previously, the US has beckoned Italy’s help in stabilising Libya, Lebanon and Tunisia. Over the past decade, Italy has strengthened its Mediterranean positioning while navigating the opportunities and challenges posed by its geopolitical environment. By doing so, the country has constantly endeavoured to leverage its Mediterranean position, policies and identity to strengthen its foothold in both Europe and the Atlantic.
Furthermore, Italy’s foreign policy reorientation has reflected the country’s diverse Mediterranean and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) interests. The Sahel region, a region associated with violent regional conflicts and instability, alongside Tunisia and Libya, has become a focal point of Italy’s foreign policy action. This strategic shift of Italy can be understood through its realigned diplomatic priorities and deployment of military and international civilian missions. These missions focused on the MENA regions, aimed to develop partnerships with local governments while reinforcing Italy’s coordination with its European, NATO and transatlantic counterparts. This novel reorientation was backed by a notable increase in the funding for African operations of 16 per cent in 2018 as compared to the 9 per cent in 2017.
Italy’s location at the centre of the Mediterranean grants it a natural sphere of influence over the region. The Italian peninsula bridges the gap between Europe and the eastern Maghreb. Strategically located, the Italian coastline lies in close proximity to the main Mediterranean maritime route stretching from the Suez Canal to the Strait of Gibraltar. Additionally, the strategic location of the Italian ports provides them with an exclusive connection with landlocked Central European countries such as Switzerland, Austria and Hungary. In addition to this, the ports of Trieste, Genoa, Livorno, Gioia Tauro and Naples have been considered as the “powerhouses for centuries, linking Europe, Asia and Africa”. While these ports rate low on the sustainability scale, they are known to handle a large quantity of goods and passengers, facilitating both international and domestic trade.
Geographical advantage aside, Italy’s economic prowess ranks it third amongst its EU member-states, behind Germany and France. With a GDP of US$ 2.372 trillion, the country represents 12 per cent of Europe’s GDP and ranks 10th in terms of World Economies. In 2022, the International Monetary Fund estimated Italy’s GDP Per Capita (PPP) to be approximately US$ 54,259, just under the EU-27 average of US$ 56,970. Italy, therefore, marks its spot as a major economic power within the European Union. However, this superior economic position is not without weakness, including a history of political instability and investor mistrust.
Although economically significant, observers view the state as a potential source of risk which could sabotage the European system with its unresolved vulnerabilities and issues. Within Europe, Italy’s political system is perceived to be highly unstable, thus jeopardising its credibility and investor confidence. In 2011, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was pushed out of power after nearly bankrupting the country. What followed was an onslaught of reforms and measures to regain Italy’s position amongst the world economies. Slashing of public spending alongside measures against tax evasions did contribute to growth from 2015 onwards, but it was struck down when the Italian GDP fell by -9 per cent in the aftermath of the global pandemic, COVID-19.
In the post-pandemic years, the Italian economy witnessed a slow growth of 0.7 per cent in 2023 as compared to the 3.9 per cent of 2022. However, its economic performance trumped the Eurozone Average of -0.4 per cent. Reduction of energy renovation measures, monetary tightening, staggering public deficits, and a rapidly ageing population disadvantage Italy compared to its European counterparts. Furthermore, despite being the second largest manufacturing power in Europe, the sector witnessed a deceleration with a 2.5 per cent fall in production primarily due to the reduction in the production of durable goods.
The international politics experienced drastic changes with the appointment of US President Donald Trump, whose policies prioritised America while imposing exorbitant tariffs on its trading partners. Following the announcement of the new tariff regime, Prime Minister Meloni became the first European leader to visit President Trump to negotiate the effects of the imposition on the European Union. Her diplomatic prowess and strategic actions earned her the favour of President Trump, making her the only European leader to attend his inauguration. Meloni’s far-right politics provide her an ally in Trump, who, like her, shares an aversion to “woke” politics, immigration, and policies of diversity, equity and inclusion. As per international analysts, Meloni’s strengthening alliance with Trump advantages Europe by neutralising the weakness posed by the political instability in Germany and France under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron, respectively.
Despite differences in stances regarding Ukraine, the US-Italy relationship has flourished. Italy has openly declared its support for Ukraine despite the contrary position of the Trump administration. In 2025, Rome conducted the fourth edition of the Annual Ukraine Recovery Conference, intended to gather monetary and diplomatic support for the country in the war against Russia. As per reports, the Meloni administration will disclose a €300 million scheme for Italian companies to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine, while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is anticipated to unveil EU guarantees in favour of investment.
Despite the Trump administration’s indifference towards Ukraine, Italy’s pro-Ukrainian stance has not tainted the relationship. The imprisonment and subsequent release of Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala in exchange for the US-issued arrest of Iranian national Mohammad Abedini illustrated the extent of diplomatic influence PM Meloni has over the Trump administration. Despite Trump’s position of deserting NATO- a military alliance heavily depended on by Europe for its security, the country’s favourable position with Italy offers hope that Rome could serve as a bridge between the US and Europe, allowing Washington to preserve its influence over the region.
Italy’s significance in European geopolitics lies in its ability to forge its geography with strategic, economic and diplomatic orientation while cultivating a rising Mediterranean position. From its early commitment to European integration to its evolving role in MENA affairs, Italy has continued to position itself as a catalyst for regional stability and political cooperation. Despite its internal vulnerabilities, Italy has undertaken new avenues to establish European expansion, maintaining itself as a conduit between Europe and Africa while simultaneously building stronger ties with the United States. By navigating its Atlantic relations while sustaining its European commitments, Italy has sought to mitigate the void created by France and Germany’s recent political turbulence.
