The Prime Minister has unveiled a diplomatic mission to the Indo-Pacific, signalling a shift in Italy’s foreign policy. It could include strategic stops in Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India. In a Senate address, she highlighted the region’s strategic importance, advocating a transition from an “enlarged Mediterranean” to a “global Mediterranean”
Decoding the news. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans for a central diplomatic mission to the Indo-Pacific, signalling a strategic shift in Italy’s foreign policy.
- Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, Meloni positioned the region as central to Italy’s future global projection and emphasised the need to evolve from a concept of an “enlarged Mediterranean” to a “global Mediterranean.”
- “It is the shortest route between the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic—the two great maritime spaces of the globe,” Meloni told lawmakers.
Dive into the region. The Indo-Pacific is emerging as the world’s key geopolitical and economic competition arena.
- Italy’s pivot underscores its ambition to transition from a reactive actor to a proactive presence on the global stage, particularly along strategic maritime and trade corridors.
Multilayered approach. Meloni’s vision isn’t just rhetorical—it’s already being operationalised on several fronts.
- Government-to-government ties are expanding across the region, including a recalibrated relationship with China following Italy’s formal exit from the Belt and Road Initiative.
- Naval diplomacy took centre stage in 2023 when Italy deployed a Carrier Strike Group, led by aircraft carrier Cavour, for a five-month Indo-Pacific tour that included stops in India, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
- Parliamentary diplomacy has also ramped up.
- A strategic paper by the Foreign Affairs Committee’s Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, based on a year of hearings with ambassadors, analysts, and business leaders, is now a key reference for shaping long-term Italian engagement in the region.
What’s on the trip? The mission will likely include strategic stops.
- Japan, already a partner in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) for a sixth-generation fighter jet, is central to industrial and military cooperation.
- Singapore, a logistics and finance hub, and Vietnam and Bangladesh are also on the radar as emerging partners.
- India, with whom Italy signed a Strategic Partnership Declaration in 2023, offers a platform for defence, tech, and industrial ties.
What we’re watching. This isn’t just about a diplomatic tour, as Italy is pursuing a system-wide strategy to solidify its role where global power competition and economic opportunity converge.
- Meloni emphasised that the Indo-Pacific is increasingly critical to European interests, from maritime security to supply chain resilience.
- “We aim to assert national interest with respect—by building ties and opening new doors for the Italian production system,” said Meloni.
