China’s BRI in the Mediterranean: a perspective on nautical ports and the never-realized investments in Italy

Abstract

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China’s ambitious infrastructure development project that aims to enhance connectivity and cooperation between China and the rest of the world. In recent years the rising criticism towards the topic led many institutions to reevaluate the initiative. This is why I consider pivotal expanding this topic, focusing this analysis on the Mediterranean area, and taking into account the European institutions’ point of view. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and discuss the effects of the Belt and Road Initiative on Mediterranean countries, especially on Italy and the Italian economy, and their effects on the country’s relationship with the European Union and China. Beginning with a brief outline of the BRI’s purposes and strategies, which include various areas such as transport, energy, digital, and people-to-people exchanges, the study further presents the strategies implemented by the Chinese government in Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Turkey, before focusing on the initiative’s application in Italian nautical ports. Lastly, this paper considers how Italy’s relationship with China influences the country’s foreign politics as well as internal economy and the national security.