From Rome with love. Italy is ramping up its engagement with Latin America, with Mexico at the centre of its strategy.
- Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s visit to Mexico combined high diplomacy, economic outreach, and media diplomacy—all framed by Italy’s push to expand exports and global partnerships.
- Formalising this pivot with Rome as its geopolitical stage, Tajani announced on Friday a meeting with counterparts from Latin America on 7 October.
Decoding the news. Latin America is becoming a top-tier priority for Italian foreign policy.
- Trade flows are surging, and Italy is positioning itself as a stable EU partner during global uncertainty.
- Italy has allocated €500 million in new financing to support further growth across the region—€300 million for investments and €200 million for export contracts.
What they’re saying. “We must prevent a global trade war. Export is vital for Italy,” Tajani said, referring to lingering trade tensions and the need for “zero-tariff” cooperation between Europe and North America–in which Mexico is included.
- Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard backed him, describing Italy as “a key partner for our industry”. “Together, we’ll develop AI, semiconductors, and automotive technology,” he said.
By the numbers. Italy-Mexico trade reached €8.12 billion in 2024, up 10.1% from the previous year.
- Italian exports totalled €6.63 billion, while imports from Mexico rose to €1.48 billion, a 24.3% increase.
- Tajani’s target: €700 billion in total Italian exports by 2027.
Not just trade, media-dynamics matters. Italian leading news agency ANSA and Mexico’s El Universal signed a media cooperation deal on the forum’s sidelines.
- Tajani called it a “tool of democracy” and a way to “better understand each other’s countries.”
What we’re watching. The 7 October summit in Rome will be a key moment to gauge whether Italy’s push toward Latin America translates into concrete diplomatic and economic outcomes.
- Attention will also be on the long-delayed update to the EU-Mexico Global Agreement, which both sides hope to finalise by the end of the year.
- Meanwhile, follow-up investments and cross-border collaborations—particularly in AI, aerospace, and automotive—will test the depth of this renewed partnership.
(Photo: Freepik)
