On Sunday, the US ambassador to Italy Lewis Eisenberg published an op-ed on the daily paper Il Messaggero.
The op-ed hinged on the role of NATO, a 71-years-old alliance based “on our values and lifestyle” and bent on defending those from the threats which “have certainly not diminished.” The ambassador stressed that the Alliance’s reinforcement remained a priority for the US and called on member states to share the burden and support its development.
Mr Eisenberg also touched upon the several instances of NATO collaboration between the US and Italy, and especially crisis aid during the pandemic. He then reminded Italians that NATO’s values are incompatible with the presence of Chinese tech in critical telecommunications equipment (namely, Huawei’s 5G modules).
The ambassador’s intervention paved the way for Tuesday’s visit of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Rome. The latter is expected to demand a clear field choice on the 5G matter.
Luca Frusone, Italian MP and chairman of the Italian delegation to NATO’s Parliamentary Assembly, endorsed Mr Eisenberg’s intervention on Twitter. He appreciated the latter’s description of the “scenarios where Italy stands with the US” and of the “complex challenges, such as Covid-19, where NATO is on the frontline.”
On Tuesday, the Italian defence minister Lorenzo Guerini penned an op-ed of his own in response to Mr Eisenberg’s, aiming to outline Italy’s commitment to NATO and relationship with the US.
“NATO represents the pillar of our collective security and the transatlantic relationship maintains its essential role,” wrote Mr Guerini. He then defended Italy’s endeavours to create and strengthen a European common defence force, arguing that it would make Europe more capable of securing the Old Continent and intervening abroad – thus reinforcing the Alliance in a roundabout way.
Both Mr Eisenberg and Mr Guerini stressed the need for an all-round Alliance. The latter then stated that Italy intends to be the US’ ally of reference for the dossiers unfolding in the Mediterranean, or “NATO’s Southern flank.”
The time has come to make NATO’s Hub for the South “fully operational,” wrote the minister. He added that the Hub, located within the Alliance’s Naples Command, can become a useful centre for the analysis and anticipation of issues arising in Northern Africa, the Sahel and the Middle East.
The diplomat then mirrored the American ambassador in acknowledging the breadth of collaboration efforts in existence between Rome and Washington. Italy, for instance, is home to 30,000 American soldiers and their families. The two countries operate side by side in crucial theatres of operation, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Centre-East Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Guinea.
Italy and the US are also reinforcing reciprocal industrial ties, which spark a positive trickle-down effect on those smaller companies that are essential to the production lines. The most recent example of this is Rome’s entrance in NASA’s lunar mission (Artemis), where larger Italian companies will be supplying tech and means of production.
Meanwhile, Fincantieri is already building the US Marine’s next frigates, Beretta is dealing in firearms, Leonardo is supplying training helicopters and aiding the F-35 program.
Angelo Tofalo, undersecretary of Defence, described the US-Italy relationship as “historic, strong and consolidated,” capable of creating new opportunities for cooperation and development. “The [Italian] industry needs an impulse that may only be given by projects high in technological value,” he told Formiche.net.
He argued that this technological collaboration is instrumental to tackle future challenges, and thus crucial for Italy’s international standing, based – as ambassador Eisenberg and minister Guerini reiterated – on the Atlantic Alliance and the European Union.
Mr Tofalo also acknowledged the importance of the 5G dossier, which is being “carefully evaluated” by Rome and where “national security is the prerequisite.” He then argued that Mr Pompeo’s visit will be a fruitful occasion for confrontation.
