To unpack these dynamics, we asked leading voices to share their insights.
Italy as a global connector
- James Carafano, Senior Counselor to the President and E.W. Richardson Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, United States
Few nations have revitalized their external policies more or garnered more attention for their efforts than Italy. There is a growing global trend to advance the development of economic corridors as an alternative to globalization or a return to the building of geopolitical blocks of hard spheres of influence. The government in Rome under Prime Minister Georgia Meloni anticipated this shift and using its strategic position as a key node in Eurasian connectivity had embraced the movement both to strengthen its global influence and develop new economic engines for the Italian economy.
Meloni grasped how Russia’s war against Ukraine has loosened its influence in the Eurasian space. She has not only put her government firmly on the side of supporting a free and independent Ukraine that can defend itself but exploited the Kremlin’s weaking grip to broaden its relationships in the Middle East, the South Caucuses and Central Asia. Meloni turned her back on deepening commitments with China after it was clear that Beijing’s Belt and Road project was becoming a bridge to nowhere. Italy, as well as seen Iran’s declining influence as opportunity for great cross-regional engagement.
Italy has become the European champion for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), outpacing the rest of Europe in outreach to India. Rome is a supporter of the Three Seas Initiative. The Italian government is also interested in the development of the Middle Corridor connecting Central Asia and the South Caucuses to global markets. Finally, Italy strongly supports partnerships in Africa. The government has capped this effort with an ambition for closer partnership with Washington which shares many common goals with Rome.
Political shine, policy standstill
- Nathalie Tocci, Director of Instituto Affari Internazionali and Professor of Practice at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Europe, Johns Hopkins University
Over the last few years, Italy appears to have acquired a more prominent role in European and international affairs. Under Giorgia Meloni’s leadership, Italy has gained political stability. Once known for its tumultuous politics and short-lived governments, Meloni’s executive is poised to survive its full term. This alone, especially when contrasted with deep political uncertainty in other large European countries, has elevated Italy’s status. Added to this is the fact that Meloni’s far-right government swims at ease in the far-right tide that has swept across many European countries as well as the United States. In Europe, this has enabled her to cultivate ties both with peer far-right leaders and woo over center-right forces, that (mistakenly) believe that by tilting to the right they may claw back public support.
Across the Atlantic, Meloni has prided herself of her relationship with US President Donald Trump as well as Elon Musk and is a regular speaker in far-right gatherings such as CPAC. In short, politics is what has elevated Italy’s status. Foreign policy is not. While Meloni’s government has not shied away from making ambitious announcements, none have delivered in practice.
On migration, a controversial deal with Albania to extraterritorially process asylum applications remains unimplemented, while in Africa her Mattei Plan has seen no concrete projects on the ground, with the exception those that several companies already had in store before she took office. On Ukraine, Meloni has stayed the course, but has stepped back from the leadership role Italy played under her predecessor Mario Draghi, notably as regards Ukraine’s EU membership. Rome is part of the coalition of the willing but has comfortably taken a backseat. So yes, Italy’s political star is rising amidst a tide of instability and far-right nationalism. But as far as policy – including foreign policy – is concerned, tutto cambia perché nulla cambi”.
Italy steps into the (others) vacuum
- Amb. Philip Reeker (ret), Partner and lead for Europe & Eurasia, DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group and Distinguished Fellow for Europe, Wilson Center. Former Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, United States
As it did during the Renaissance, Italy has re-emerged as a significant global actor, demonstrating a level of diplomatic energy and strategic clarity not seen in years. Under the stable leadership of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Rome has stepped confidently into a series of regional and international challenges—often filling vacuums left by countries considered the EU’s more traditional leaders—to help shape outcomes through credibility, consistency, and strategic engagement.
While the EU talks more than acts on the long-overdue accession of countries in the Western Balkans, Italy has historical, economic, and security interests and has long been played an important role as part of the “Quint,” with UK, French, German and American partners. Rome has been a driving force behind renewed EU and NATO attention to the region, emphasizing stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, advancing Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, and supporting democratic resilience across the Adriatic. Italy’s credibility—grounded in proximity, investment, and longstanding political ties—gives it unique leverage at a moment when great-power competition is sharpening in the Balkans.
In the Caucasus, Italy has taken on a quiet but influential role, leveraging its strong energy partnerships and EU leadership to support stability following the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict. Meloni has encouraged deeper EU engagement, promoted dialogue with both Yerevan and Baku, and stressed the importance of reliable energy corridors that link the Caspian to Europe.
Africa has become another pillar of Italy’s international posture, with additional presence and focused engagement. Through the “Mattei Plan,” Meloni has advanced a vision of equal partnership focused on energy, migration management, infrastructure, and long-term economic development. The initiative signals that Europe must address African challenges, including development and migration, not episodically but as part of a shared strategic future.
In the Middle East, Italy has emerged as a pragmatic, stabilizing voice—supporting de-escalation, humanitarian access, and cooperation with regional partners while maintaining strong transatlantic alignment.
Together, these efforts illustrate a more confident Italy. The fact that the crucial Draghi and Letta reports were both authored by Italians speaks for itself. Meloni is perhaps the most senior leader on the Council of the European Union. Her relationship with President Trump has helped the broader transatlantic dialogue and shaped diplomatic agendas. Italy is great (again) and can contribute greatly to global affairs.
Europeanizing the Mattei vision
- Arturo Varvelli, Head of Rome Office and Senior Policy Fellow, European Council for Foreign Relations (ECFR)
The concept of “global Italy” is evident in the Meloni’s approach towards the “Wider Mediterranean”. Here Rome has reemerged as a major power in recent years. Italy’s unique geopolitical position makes it a key hub for the transatlantic community, connecting European priorities—from energy security to countering Russian influence—with the complex dynamics of North Africa, the Levant, and even the Sahel.
This proactive stance is driven by a profound national interest, but its effectiveness depends on the collaboration Italy is able to forge with its partners. Meloni has launched several initiatives, from the Mattei Plan to the Rome Process, and has played an active role in IMEC and in relations with the Gulf and India. But for the Meloni government’s ambition to yield maximum results, it must “Europeanize” its strategy. Italy is a perfect “pilot fish,” capable of guiding the EU’s largest “turtle” by successfully translating its regional knowledge into community policies, as demonstrated in particular by its coalition-building on migration.
A key instrument for this influence is the Mattei Plan, a key initiative aimed at promoting sustainable cooperation with African nations. However, to fully realize its geoeconomic potential, the Plan requires the resources of the EU’s Global Gateway. Through IMEC, the Italian government is seeking a somewhat new and alternative vision to past initiatives: the attempt to launch an “Indo-Mediterranean policy” as an alternative to China’s Silk Road.
Rome has understood that it needs the EU for these initiatives and is working toward this goal. By channeling its ambitious foreign policy through a common EU framework, Italy is ensuring that political and financial investments in the Mediterranean are not perceived solely as a European response to migration, but as a genuine, long-term commitment. This collaborative effort is essential to address the root causes of instability and consolidate Europe’s southern flank against geopolitical pressures, ensuring Italy’s role as a committed and proactive leader.
Continuity under stress
- Antonio Missiroli, Senior Advisor, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) and former NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges
In the current (and foreseeable) strategic and geopolitical context, all European countries are confronted with difficult challenges and hard choices: some are common – starting with how to contain and deter an ever more aggressive Russia and how to mitigate the looming deterioration of transatlantic relations – and some are more country-specific.
To date, Italy has adopted a pragmatic approach. There has been continuity in support for Ukraine – albeit with a comparatively modest direct supply of weaponry – and solidarity with the most exposed European allies (as epitomized by the recent intervention of Italian fighter jets to protect Estonia’s airspace). There has been compliance with successive waves of EU sanctions against Russian actors, despite lingering doubts across the political system. And there has been commitment towards the new NATO targets for national military expenditure as well as the new EU initiatives to boost the continent’s defence industry – in both cases, despite initial reservations due to Italy’s persisting fiscal constraints.
Continuity, compliance and commitment will now be put to further test when facing:
– the request to provide some sort of security guarantee to Ukraine: to what extent will Rome be part of the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’?
– the prospect of a gradual US military disengagement from Europe: to what extent will Italy help fill the resulting vacuum, and how?
– the push to equip Europeans with the means to better defend themselves: to what extent will the country’s political (and opinion) leaders be able to converge on a credible and sustainable path for the next decade?
The rising IMEC axis
- Rachel Rizzo, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council of the United States
After withdrawing its membership from China’s Belt and Road Initiative in late 2023, Italy is now increasing its engagement in the broader Indo-Pacific region. Its deepening relationship with India, in particular, represents one of the most significant developments in recent Italian foreign policy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Georgia Meloni have met five times since she entered office, with the two leaders being nicknamed “Melodi,” due to their comradery, similar governing styles, and world views. But beyond the personal diplomacy, the two sides are taking niche aspects of the relationship to the next level.
In November of 2024, Italy and India announced the “joint strategic action plan” focused on deepening political dialogue, increasing economic cooperation and investments, improving connectivity, and cooperating defense, among a few other pillars. So far, there has been good progress, with an Aerospace Roadshow taking place in November of 2025, which involved 13 Italian companies and spanned major Indian cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, and New Delhi.
The future of IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor), which Italy joined in 2023, will be crucial in shaping this partnership’s future. While IMEC faces a challenging path ahead, its success could prove transformative by deepening connectivity between Europe and other regions. Given Prime Minister Meloni’s ambition for Italy to serve as a bridge between Europe and other parts of the world, she has a particular stake in seeing IMEC succeed and flourish. Beyond its bilateral significance, the India-Italy partnership could help shape the broader contours of EU strategy as the bloc seeks to forge new alliances beyond the United States.
