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Italy

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This article describes the foreign relations of Italy.

Contents 1 International organization participation 2 Foreign Relations 3 Relations with the United States 4 Relations with the Russian Federation 5 Relations with the People's Republic of China 6 International disputes 7 Illegal immigration 8 Illicit drugs 9 References 10 See also

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Italy was a founding member of the European Community--now the European Union (EU). Italy was admitted to the United Nations in 1955 and is a member and strong supporter of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization (GATT/WTO), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Council of Europe. It chaired the CSCE (the forerunner of the OSCE) in 1994, the EU in 1996, and the G-8 in 2001 and served as EU president from July to December 2003.

Italy firmly supports the United Nations and its international security activities. Italy actively participated in and deployed troops in support of UN peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Mozambique, and East Timor and provides critical support for NATO and UN operations in Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania. Italy deployed 1,000 Alpini troops to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in February 2003. Italy also supports international efforts to reconstruct and stabilize Iraq through its military contingent of some 3,200 troops, as well as humanitarian workers and other officials. The troops remained in Iraq under UN mandate and at the request of the sovereign Iraqi Government until December 2006.

In August 2006 Italy sent about 3,000 soldiers to Lebanon for the ONU peacekeeping mission UNIFIL.^[1] Furthermore, since 2 February 2007 an Italian, Claudio Graziano is the commander of the UN force in the country.

The Italian Government seeks to obtain consensus with other European countries on various defense and security issues within the EU as well as NATO. European integration and the development of common defense and security policies will continue to be of primary interest to Italy.

In February 2007, Italy, Britain, Canada, Norway and Russia announced their funding commitments to launch a $1.5 billion project to help develop vaccines they said could save millions of lives in poor nations, and called on others to join them.^[1]

The United States generally enjoys friendly relations with Italy. The two are NATO allies and cooperate in the United Nations, in various regional organizations, and bilaterally for peace, prosperity, and security. Italy has worked closely with the United States and others on such issues as NATO and UN operations as well as with assistance to Russia and the New Independent States; the Middle East peace process; multilateral talks; Somalia and Mozambique peacekeeping; and combating drug trafficking, trafficking in women and children, and terrorism.

Under longstanding bilateral agreements flowing from NATO membership, Italy hosts important U.S. military forces at Vicenza and Livorno (army); Aviano (air force); and Sigonella, Gaeta, and Naples--home port for the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet. The United States has about 16,000 military personnel stationed in Italy. Italy hosts the NATO War College in Rome.

Italy remains a strong and active transatlantic partner which, along with the United States, has sought to foster democratic ideals and international cooperation in areas of strife and civil conflict. Toward this end, the Italian Government has cooperated with the United States in the formulation of defense, security, and peacekeeping policies.

The election of the new Italian PM Prodi may change relations with the US, after a period of acritical and staunch support for the current US administration, under the Berlusconi government.

Also, investigations continue about the killing of Italian Military Intelligence service officer Nicola Calipari by United States troops during the liberation of Giuliana Sgrena and about the abduction and torture of terrorism suspect Abu Omar by CIA agents.

Russia seems to enjoy friendly relations with Italy. As of 2006, Russia and Italy have signed a protocol of cooperation for fighting crime and defending civil liberties ^[2].

In 2005, Italy and the People's Republic of China have celebrated the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations. They seem to enjoy warm relations and plan to step up cooperation in many fields, such as global peace and stability and the reform of the United Nations.

However, China's massive exports of textile and footwear into Italy are said to be a rising concern to Italy's economy and productivity^[3].

Italy and Slovenia made progress in resolving bilateral issues; Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic minority rights. Investigations continue about the killing of Italian Military Intelligence service officer Nicola Calipari by United States troops during the liberation of Giuliana Sgrena and about the abduction and torture of terrorism suspect Abu Omar by CIA agents.

Still large popular resentment about alleged U.S. and French involvement in the crash of Itavia Flight 870 and subsequent cover-up over Ustica in 1980, as for the NATO-sponsored strategy of tension in the 70s-80s and the Cermis incident in the 90s.

Italy – wishing for a seat for the whole European Union – opposes the request of G4 nations (Brazil, Germany, India and Japan) for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, accusing them of buying votes of poorer countries using aid money.

Italian and Albanian authorities managed to basically stop the flow of illegal immigrants (such as Albanians and Kurds) and human trafficking from the Albanian coast to Italy, that have acquired great significance toward the end of the last century.

From the beginning of the current century the most important flow of immigrants come from the coasts and the illegal organizations of Libya. Although an Italian-Libyan agreement exists it is substantially ineffective, probably the failure of this collaboration is favoured by the not very good relationship between the two governments. However, as for almost all continental european countries, the numerically biggest flow come from terrestrial borders.

United States authorities allege Italy is an important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market

1. ^ ^{a b} "Italian soldiers leave for Lebanon Il Corriere della Sera, 30 August 2006
2. ^ http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2006/01/20/71472.html
3. ^ http://english.people.com.cn/200506/27/eng20050627_192457.html

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