Rome, Italy – Defense Minister Guido Crosetto of Italy has criticized his country's decision to join China's Belt and Road (BRI) initiative, calling it an "improvised and atrocious" move that has done little to boost Italy's exports and made China the only winner.
Crosetto's comments come as Italy faces increasing pressure to withdraw from the global investment program, which aims to connect China with Europe and beyond through rebuilding the old Silk Road trade route.
In 2019, Italy became the first developed economy to join the BRI, a move that was met with concern by its Western allies.
China has provided funding for major infrastructure projects around the world as part of the initiative, with the aim of speeding Chinese goods to markets further afield.
However, critics have expressed concern that the BRI is being used by China to spread influence, and some countries have raised concerns about the potential for debt traps and other negative consequences of participating in the program.
Italy now faces the challenge of how to withdraw from the BRI without damaging its relations with Beijing.
The country has until December 2024 to formally request a withdrawal from the initiative, and Beijing has launched a diplomatic campaign to try to persuade Italy to renew the deal.
While China has hailed the BRI as a success, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stating that the two nations have seen "fruitful results" in many fields as a result of the initiative, Crosetto's comments suggest that there is growing dissatisfaction with the BRI among Italian officials.
As China continues to assert itself on the world stage, other countries may follow Italy's lead and reconsider their participation in the BRI.
In 2019, Italy became the first developed economy to join the BRI, a move that was met with concern by its Western allies.
China has provided funding for major infrastructure projects around the world as part of the initiative, with the aim of speeding Chinese goods to markets further afield.
However, critics have expressed concern that the BRI is being used by China to spread influence, and some countries have raised concerns about the potential for debt traps and other negative consequences of participating in the program.
Italy now faces the challenge of how to withdraw from the BRI without damaging its relations with Beijing.
The country has until December 2024 to formally request a withdrawal from the initiative, and Beijing has launched a diplomatic campaign to try to persuade Italy to renew the deal.
While China has hailed the BRI as a success, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stating that the two nations have seen "fruitful results" in many fields as a result of the initiative, Crosetto's comments suggest that there is growing dissatisfaction with the BRI among Italian officials.
As China continues to assert itself on the world stage, other countries may follow Italy's lead and reconsider their participation in the BRI.