- India as a strategic partner: Tajani calls India a pillar of stability in the Indo-Mediterranean, highlighting cooperation in defense, infrastructure, and green technology.
- Africa as a security priority: Rome links development and counterterrorism through the Mattei Plan, viewing Sahel instability as a direct risk to Europe.
- Geoeconomic vision: Italy aims to connect the Mediterranean, Africa, and Indo-Pacific through a security-driven growth diploma
Italy’s foreign policy is increasingly defined by the intersection of economic ambition and security concerns. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has reiterated that crises across Africa and beyond could affect the country’s growth trajectory — but also that Italy intends to respond through a proactive and outward-looking economic strategy.
“Noi stiamo puntando sulla diplomazia della crescita, resta confermato il nostro obiettivo di raggiungere i 700 miliardi di export entro il 2027. I numeri delle esportazioni extra Ue confermano che il Made in Italy è forte, richiesto e apprezzato sui nuovi mercati in Asia, India,” Tajani said, underscoring how trade expansion is central to Italy’s global posture.
While growth remains the cornerstone, the government also sees security in Africa as a crucial element of its foreign policy. Tajani has repeatedly stressed that instability in the Sahel — fueled by terrorism, trafficking, and state fragility — poses a direct risk to Mediterranean and European stability. Through the Mattei Plan, Italy seeks to combine development aid, infrastructure investment, and energy cooperation to create conditions for long-term security and growth.
From a broader perspective, analysts note that India has emerged as a significant reference point for Italy’s economic and strategic outreach. Though Tajani did not mention the Indo-Mediterranean directly, Italy’s growing trade and technological cooperation with New Delhi reflects a wider ambition: to strengthen ties with dynamic Asian markets while maintaining stability across the Mediterranean.
Together, these elements form the backbone of Rome’s current foreign policy — a mix of economic assertiveness and security awareness, aimed at positioning Italy as a bridge between Europe, Africa, and Asia in an increasingly interconnected world.
