Italy’s Silent Engagement in the Indo-Pacific
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
“Italy’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to regional stability and prosperity should not be underestimated. It is the world’s eighth-largest economy, the seventh-largest manufacturing country, and Europe’s second-largest industrial power after Germany. Its military capabilities – including a blue-water navy and a globally competitive defence industry led by Leonardo and Fincantieri – further bolster its strategic credentials.”
“Importantly, Italy’s Indo-Pacific engagement has remained consistent across successive governments, despite frequent political turnover at home. Bilateral relations have deepened, naval deployments have increased, and Italian companies – especially in manufacturing and defence – have expanded operations in East and Southeast Asia. These efforts have been undertaken under the ‘Sistema Italia’ framework, which involves coordinated support from embassies, government agencies and a growing number of chambers of commerce.”
“A major turning point in Italy’s Indo-Pacific trajectory came in 2007 when Rome joined the Pacific Islands Forum as a Dialogue Partner – following France and the UK, but ahead of Germany, Spain, and Singapore….”
https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/rsis/italys-silent-engagement-in-the-indo-pacific/