Bari, Italy – Italy is gearing up to put Africa at the forefront of discussions at this year’s Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ meeting, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni aiming to establish the country as a significant energy hub bridging Europe and Africa. However, experts have raised concerns about the clarity of vision and economic resources required to achieve this ambitious goal.
The G7 summit, set to take place in the southern region of Puglia, will see twelve heads of state convene to address global politics. Themes like Africa, climate change, and development will dominate the initial sessions, highlighting Meloni’s strategic outreach to the Global South by inviting a substantial number of guests from the region.
With the Mattei Plan as a central focus, Meloni envisions positioning Italy as a key player in Africa, facilitating the distribution of gas from the continent to Europe while fostering economic growth to curb mass migration. However, questions linger about the plan’s emphasis on investment over development and limited involvement of NGOs and humanitarian organizations.
Despite skepticism around the plan’s feasibility and concerns about economic resources, Meloni aims to leverage Italy’s rising European prominence to attract partnerships and funding for her Africa-centric initiatives, presenting a new narrative for Italy’s engagement with the continent.
A new face
Meloni’s strategic focus on Africa comes at a time when securing energy resources and diversifying partners are crucial for European nations amid geopolitical changes. By positioning Italy as a less paternalistic and imposing partner compared to other colonial powers, Meloni seeks to carve a distinct role for the country in Africa’s development.
‘Just narrative’
While Meloni has outlined key areas of investment for Italy’s Africa strategy, criticisms about the plan’s vagueness and lack of substantial resources persist. Doubts linger about Italy’s capacity to fund new projects and the extent of its institutional presence across the continent, raising questions about the plan’s real impact beyond political rhetoric.