Italy becomes first G7 nation to sign China’s Belt and Road initiative:
Italy’s government has taken a significant step in signing a non-binding agreement to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative – Beijing’s global market strategy to increase regional connectivity with Eurasia through big infrastructural developments. Included in the plan are a total of 29 deals worth $2.8 billion across a range of industries. With this deal, Italy hopes to boost its stagnating economy and expand unimpeded trade and investment with China. Whilst this may seem like progress for Italy, it is a cause of concern for the US and EU. Italy acting unilaterally undermines European unity to engage as a single bloc, putting strain on an already fraying Italy-EU relationship. This also signifies a win for Xi Jinping in spreading China’s geopolitical influence in the West, allowing it to more easily export goods to lucrative markets. In turn, it is a loss for US dominance. With the two superpowers already in the midst of an escalating trade war, China stepping its foot into the heart of Europe does not bode well for the White House. Although the agreement’s terms are not yet clarified, this independent move already indicates towards EU division and ascendency of the East.
The great-grandson of Mussolini will run in the European Elections
The unexpected familiar name of Mussolini will appear on Italians’ EU voting ballots as the great grandson of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini runs as a candidate. 50-year-old Caio Giulio Cesare Mussolini is running for the far-right Brothers of Italy party (Fratelli D’Italia), while his cousin, Alessandra Mussolini has also served as an MEP since 2014. Caio Guilio Cesare, whose name also belongs to the ancient roman dictator Julius Caesar, describes himself as ‘a post-fascist who refers to those values in a non-ideological way’. He claims to be proud of his family name and the ‘Mussolini brand’, choosing to represent Italy’s ‘history’, in the hope of regaining the attention of core Fratelli D’Italia, being supporters of fascism nostalgia.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
MISCELLANEOUS
LOTTE BULL
POLITICA