Ep. 23 – “Central Asia – Italy” third meeting in Rome
In the latest Geopolitical Report Podcast, we explored the recent high-level meeting between Italian and Central Asian republics' foreign affairs ministers held in Rome.
In the latest Geopolitical Report Podcast, we explored the recent high-level meeting between Italian and Central Asian republics' foreign affairs ministers held in Rome.
President Emomali Rahmon’s recent official visit to Italy signifies a significant step forward in Tajikistan’s diplomatic relations, underlining the nation’s strategic engagement with Italy across various domains, including political, economic, trade, cultural, humanitarian, and security spheres.
The resurgence of the Islamic State poses a significant threat to Italy and Europe, leveraging geopolitical events to bolster propaganda and recruitment efforts. The evolving landscape of terrorism, characterised by decentralised online radicalisation, presents challenges in surveillance and counteraction.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s official visit to Italy marks a pivotal moment in bilateral relations, emphasising shared interests in energy diversification, technology, and infrastructure. The visit resulted in significant progress, with seven intergovernmental agreements, and 16 commercial memoranda signed. Key projects, including a joint venture between Eni and KazMunayGas for a hybrid power plant, underscore the expanding economic ties.
This report wants to contextualise the impact and importance for Armenia that cultural events such a photographic exhibition can have in Italy, a country which in the last years has developed a strong commercial partnership and connection with Azerbaijan and has demonstrated less attention and interests to the Yerevan and Stepanakert’s position about the Nagorno-Karabakh while has privileged Baku’s narrative.
The Azerbaijani military incursion into the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh has brought to light Italy’s precarious foreign policy in the South Caucasus. Driven by a web of Rome’s imperatives and constraints, the Italian government finds itself torn between justifying Azerbaijan’s regional strategy and acknowledging the resulting humanitarian crisis and civilian casualties.
The recent meeting between the Iranian ambassador in Rome and the managers of selected Italian companies underscores a significant potential for economic cooperation between the two parties. Tehran’s keen interest in attracting foreign investors and companies, particularly those from Italy, is palpable.
The recent meeting between the Turkmen ambassador to Italy and the Italian Trade Agency's representatives highlighted business potentialities between the two countries, Rome's desire to increase its presence in the Turkmen and Central Asia markets, and Ashgabat's strategy to diversify its commercial partners.
Ilham Aliyev's visit to Italy confirmed Baku's interest in strengthening commercial and business partnerships with Rome and attracting Italian investments in the reconstruction process in the Nagorno-Karabakh territories, which are now under Azerbaijani control.
Italy recently discussed further cooperation with Uzbekistan, showing Rome's attempt to play a more influential role in Central Asia by being engaged in a strategic market where Italian companies might export their know-how and products while the Italian authorities might diversify trade and energy imports.
As part of the SpecialEurasia project "Geopolitika Evrazija", we attended a round table at the Kazakh embassy in Rome to get acquainted with the constitutional reforms and the upcoming referendum that will be held in Kazakhstan on June 5th, 2022.
Geopolitical Report ISSN 2785-2598 Volume 18 Issue 2 - Recently, representatives of Italy held a series of meetings with colleagues in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, dedicated to the issues of enhancing cultural cooperation, confirming Rome's interests in Central Asia.
Kyrgyzstan and Italy recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. Recent official meetings between Italian and Kyrgyz political and business representatives underlined Italy's interest in deepening cooperation with central Asian markets.
Lebanon and Italy have many common traits and some apparent differences. Both are centralised countries with marked differences between territories; both are experiencing a long-term political-institutional deadlock and wonder how to get out.
The recent visit of the Kyrgyz Foreign Affairs Minister to Italy and his meetings with the Italian counterpart highlighted the Italian attempt to become more involved in the Central Asian market and dynamics and Bishkek's desire to expand its diplomatic and economic relations to diversify its portfolio of partners and decrease the influence of Russia and China in the country.