Giulio Terzi of Sant’Agata, excellence of diplomacy and Italian institutions, he was ambassador to Israel from 2002 to 2004 and to New York and Washington from 2008 to 2011, as well as foreign minister in the Monti government. Elected to the Senate with the Brethren of Italy, “a party of which I have the honor to be a member”, he is President of the Permanent Commission on European Union Politics.
Mr. Senator, given your experience and your international caliber in foreign policy issues, how do you assess the line taken by the Meloni government in the first few months after taking office?
“The government immediately gained a very high international profile. This happened in a very short time, perhaps also due to the enormous security, economic and positioning challenges that Italy was facing. Demonstrate the ability to influence from the start in the most important multilateral but also bilateral contexts”.
Are you referring to Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s visit last week?
“Yep. The visit demonstrated our credibility in a geopolitical area that used to be considered remote. We’ve always looked to the Mediterranean, the EU, the Middle East, Africa… but at this stage the Indo-Pacific has become relevant in a security notion that is now fully integrated. The season of international security, which was approached and resolved in a more “regional” key, is over. From Europe to the Indo-Pacific, there is only one security. Japan is a strategic partner; It has historic ties and established ties in the Pacific with France, Britain and Germany. A “strategic partnership” between Italy and Japan was agreed upon with the meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and Prime Minister Meloni. A significant development for our global missions and interests. We can appreciate the importance of the trilateral fighter jet programme the latest generation tion (GCAP) between Japan, Great Britain and Italy should certainly not be underestimated.”
Is Italy a global country?
“Of course. Because Italy proves it with its soft power and the enormous attraction that our culture exerts on the world; with the internationalization of the country’s economy and scientific and technological excellence; with peacekeeping operations in which we also participate in command positions; with the presence of more than 20 million American citizens of Italian origin, an extraordinary wealth for both countries, with the ability to influence in all the main multilateral fora.We think of the great struggles to become elected members of the United Nations Security Council and him to reform. We are members of the G7 and founders of the EU. It is more than evident that Italy has responsibilities and projections of a global nature and must increasingly express them.”
How should the Meloni government move within the European institutions?
“To follow a line based on coherence with the commitments made in the process of European integration and with its belonging to the Atlantic community. Attentive in particular to the integration process that respects the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality in the transfer of powers from the national level to those of the European institutions.”
Winston Churchill, before retiring from British politics, told his ministers: “Never leave the United States of America”.
“Very timely for at least two reasons. A strong identity of values and a long history of constantly strengthening political, economic, cultural and human relations. The United States is our most important economic, scientific and cultural partner outside of Europe. Our security, which must also rely more on European defence, is guaranteed by belonging to the Atlantic Alliance, to which the United States has always been by far the most important contributor.”
How do you understand the change in military leadership within the Russian Armed Forces?
“It’s a sign of desperation. Putin is waging a war against Europe based on post-tsarist ideologies, committing very serious international crimes. Soon Russia will not be able to cope with the situation, this insanity of allocation of resources continues, the defense budget would reach 30% of GDP, I think.
Iran is experiencing one of the harshest civilian repressions of all time. How should the international community move?
“By adding the IRGC Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the list of terrorist organizations. But Iran has had a permanent revolt for at least three years, not three months. Between 2017 and 2019, more than 1,500 demonstrators were killed in the bloody crackdown on popular protests. The outrage expressed by President Mattarella obviously concerns the horrific behavior of the Pasdaran and their commanders up to the highest levels of the Iranian state, supported by forces like the IRGC, which must be considered a terrorist organization in every sense.”
What role does the IRGC play?
“He has a dominant position in Iran’s internal dynamics, reaching the point of influencing the appointment of the presidents of the Islamic Republic and controlling important sectors of the defense industry and nuclear program, which the regime is secretly running despite international agreements.”
Will the attack on the Brazilian parliament strengthen Lula’s position?
“Yep. And although personally I’m not happy about that because I’m not convinced that Lula’s management has presented a positive season for Brazil. We have the consequences, the court cases, the difficulties and the repercussions outside of the episodes of mismanagement of this one as well Years seen… What turns out is that the governor of the state of Brasilia has not activated the police. We must investigate and condemn these incidents so that they do not happen again in any country.”
Could there be more clashes?
“Certainly there are people who fan the fire. Let’s see how happy a world could be in which Russia, China and Iran managed to destabilize a geopolitical, economic and democratic protagonist like Brazil…”
Before the war in Ukraine, there was talk of an unstoppable crisis in Western democracy. Now, despite your “rosts,” do you think many will change their minds?
“From a statistical point of view, Freedom House has been partly correct in highlighting the progressive decline in the number of democratic countries over the past fifteen years. I am convinced that this is an apparent rather than an actual decline. There are countless countries that want to join the EU immediately, drawn not by European authoritarianism but by the personal, commercial and cultural freedom to engage in politics that Europe embodies. Not to mention the millions of Russian, Chinese and Iranian citizens who are clamoring for freedom and justice even though they know they can end up like Politkovskaya, Estemirova, Nemtsov, Navalny, Joshua Wong, Mahsa Amini.
The Beijing government is showing a whole range of profound critical problems in dealing with the new Covid wave.
“China is a catastrophic failure with the ‘Zero Covid’ policy that will set the economy back even further. Agenda 2025 is completely skipped. In the field of artificial intelligence, “quantum computing” and advanced microconductor technologies, the United States and several Western countries have a clear advantage. We must continue to be.”
However, there is public and political opinion at the European level that is positive about Chinese efficiency.
“This is a wrong direction. Many companies regret the costs. Major high-tech companies – Meta, Google, iPhone, Apple, etc. – are relocating between Vietnam and India. Southeast Asia has become an ever stronger and expanding reality. There is a saying in Western business circles: “Where do you want to invest? Everywhere but not in China”.
What do you think of Qatargate?
“A shameful story. But Russian, Chinese and Iranian interference should also be investigated. For example, the network of Iranian embassies abroad deserves great attention, also due to the conviction for terrorism of the diplomatic agent Assadi, accredited to the Iranian embassy in Vienna, who, together with his accomplices, was sentenced to twenty years in prison”.
There was talk of a foreign “hand” unleashing the scandal to weaken the European institutions.
“Everything is possible…”.
During these years of opposition, the prime minister had expressed his intention to implement a naval blockade. Since he came to power, however, the landings have continued. Is there perhaps an intention not to aggravate relations with the Quirinale? And with the European Commission regarding the funds of the PNRR?
“During the election campaign, it was repeatedly made clear by President Giorgia Meloni and other FDI exponents, such as Sen. Fazzolari and myself, that the measures to ban the illegal trade in migrants in sea areas bordering Libya, Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries should apply in close cooperation implemented with the authorities of these countries. It would certainly not be a new experience to already be part of the EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia, which ended three years ago. There are also other earlier operations in the Adriatic in the late 1990s”.
How can the Italian government deal with the new waves of migration?
“The meetings with the President of the European Commission in Rome and the meetings planned in Turkey, Tunisia and Libya over the next few days demonstrate the strong and coherent commitment of this government’s initiatives in a transparent dialogue both with the European institutions and Partners, with our Mediterranean neighbors”.
You were an excellence of Italian diplomacy, what is your fondest memory?
“Italy’s election to the Security Council in October ’94 for the ’95/’96 biennium. The strategy was conceived, executed and implemented by Ambassador Paolo Fulci. I remember sitting behind Paolo – I wrote down the votes, we had won by beating all the other candidates, including Germany – I handed him the slip of paper, he looked at it and said with an unforgettable smile: ” Keep him with you always!”.