Decoding the news. As argued by Valbona Zeneli, advisory board member of Decode39, in Il Messaggero, the visit represents a strategic signal rather than a symbolic gesture, linking security, energy and competitiveness in a single foreign-policy framework.
A world of fragmentation. According to Zeneli, globalisation is no longer the organising principle of the international system. Instead, economic interdependence is being reshaped by geopolitical risk, strategic competition and the securitisation of trade, technology and energy.
- Power is increasingly measured through control over maritime routes, industrial capacity, critical inputs and resilient supply chains.
- In this environment, medium-sized powers such as Italy face a structural constraint: ambiguity is costly. Foreign policy choices increasingly overlap with industrial policy, energy strategy and security planning.
- Giorgia Meloni’s January mission to Oman, Japan and South Korea should be read through this lens — not as ceremonial diplomacy, but as a deliberate attempt to anchor Italy within reliable geopolitical and economic networks.
Why this mission matters now. Per Zeneli, the timing of the trip is significant. Italy’s outreach to the Gulf and the Indo-Pacific comes:
- Persistent instability in the Middle East, has direct implications for shipping and energy flows.
- Heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, particularly around Taiwan.
- Growing concern in Europe about strategic dependence and declining global leverage.
- Italy’s response is pragmatic. Reduce vulnerability, diversify partnerships and reinforce its role as a connector between Europe, the Gulf and Asia.
Maritime security and energy diversification. The stop in Oman highlights the centrality of the Gulf to Italy’s economic security, Zeneli explains. Disruptions in the Red Sea and broader regional instability have turned maritime routes into a strategic priority, not merely a commercial one. Oman occupies a unique position in this landscape:
- It is a stabilising actor in a volatile region.
- It sits close to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy flows.
- It offers opportunities for cooperation on LNG, hydrogen and logistics infrastructure.
- For Rome, strengthening ties with Muscat supports a broader objective, positioning Italy as a credible European interlocutor in the Gulf, at a time when EU influence in the region risks fragmentation.
The Indo-Pacific is Europe’s concern. The Indo-Pacific is no longer a distant theatre for Europe. Any escalation around Taiwan or disruption of Asian manufacturing hubs would have immediate consequences for European industry, technology access and security, analyses the expert.
- Japan and South Korea are central to this equation. They are not only political allies, but industrial powerhouses.
- Japan is the second-largest global producer of semiconductors after Taiwan.
- South Korea ranks third worldwide, with strong capabilities in chips, batteries and advanced manufacturing.
Italy’s engagement with Tokyo and Seoul reflects a dual objective:
- Deepening technological and industrial partnerships
- Attracting investment and embedding Italy within high-value supply chains
- Economic ties are expanding, though from a smaller base compared to Germany or France. In 2024, Italy–Japan trade exceeded €6 billion, while relations with South Korea reached €6.5 billion, supported by rising industrial integration and direct investment.
Strategic alignment without subordination. Meloni’s tour is carefully aligned with broader EU and transatlantic priorities. It reinforces:
- Europe’s push to strengthen partnerships in the Indo-Pacific
- NATO’s growing attention to the security spillovers from Asia
- US regional strategies, without positioning Italy as a passive follower
The strategic points:
- Oman as a pillar of Gulf stability and energy access
- Japan as a core Indo-Pacific ally and deterrence hub
- South Korea as a key technological and industrial security partner
- The approach signals coherence rather than autonomy for its own sake. Italy is acting within Western frameworks, but with clearer national interests and economic objectives.
Diplomacy as economic and security policy. Beyond bilateral agreements, According to Zeneli, the mission carries symbolic and structural weight. It projects Italy as:
- Committed to deterrence and reassurance.
- Focused on secure connectivity, not just open markets.
- Willing to use diplomacy as a lever for economic resilience.
- In an era of unstable globalisation, foreign policy is no longer about representation alone. It has become a tool for protecting value chains, reducing exposure to shocks and attracting long-term investment.
Bottom line. In sum, per Zeneli, Meloni’s eastward mission reflects a more pragmatic and ambitious Italian foreign policy, shaped by strategic realism rather than rhetoric.
- By strengthening ties with Oman, Japan and South Korea, Rome is seeking to define a recognisable role in the emerging geopolitical landscape — one where security, economics and diplomacy are inseparable.
- The challenge now is execution: translating strategic signalling into durable partnerships, industrial cooperation and long-term resilience for Italy and Europe.
