Withdrawal from the New Silk Road
Meloni ditches China in India
September 10, 2023, 9:12 p.m
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A few years ago, Italy was the only country in the G7 countries to take part in China’s Silk Road project. But growing Chinese influence is making Rome uneasy. Prime Minister Meloni is therefore having “very good” talks with her Chinese counterpart at the G20 summit in India.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni informed China on the sidelines of the G20 summit about Italy’s exit from the New Silk Road. She made it clear to her Chinese counterpart Li Qiang in New Delhi that Italy would withdraw from the project, writes the Corriere della Sera, among others. As a replacement, a strategic partnership agreement with China is to be revived. This is aimed at promoting economic cooperation and was signed in 2004.
As the “Corriere della Sera” further reports, Meloni is said to have been relieved that the conversation went “very well”. The Italian head of government made it clear that the decision was not determined or dictated by Washington.
Italy was the only nation from the western group of states G7 that had joined the Silk Road project. With billions of dollars, the People’s Republic is building a new trade route worth several hundred billion dollars along the legendary Silk Road, which is intended to reach numerous countries, including the countries of Eastern Europe. The EU criticizes that China is making poorer countries dependent on itself with this project.
Replacement project by USA, EU, India and Saudi Arabia
Italy’s participation in the agreement was agreed in 2019 by the then government in Rome. Many politicians in Italy now fear that growing Chinese influence could lead to new friction with Western allies. Italy will hold the G7 presidency next year.
In competition with the Chinese Silk Road project, several countries want to decide to expand railway lines and ports in the Middle East and South Asia – with the participation of the USA and the EU. “Connecting these key regions is, in our view, a great opportunity,” US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi. A corresponding declaration of intent is to be signed by the European Union, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the USA and other G20 partners.