Italy's Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, has referred to his country's decision to join China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as "wicked." In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Crosetto stated

that the BRI, a global infrastructure investment program established by China's Xi Jinping in 2013, has not significantly benefited Italy's exports. The BRI aims to enhance trade and economic growth by connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe through various infrastructure projects.

Critics view the BRI as a means for China to expand its influence worldwide. In 2019, Italy became the only major Western country and the only member of the G7 group of advanced economies to join the initiative. Crosetto lamented that while Italy exported oranges to China, China's exports to Italy tripled over three years. He also highlighted the fact that other countries, such as Paris, had secured lucrative deals with China without joining the BRI.

As Italy's BRI membership is set to expire in 2024, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed the possibility of maintaining "good relations" with China outside the scheme. The government is now contemplating how to withdraw from the BRI without harming its relationship with Beijing, viewing China as both a competitor and a partner. Photo by Ministero della Difesa, Wikimedia commons.