Italy Pulls Out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that the project did not produce the expected results. Italy is withdrawing from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a significant setback for the communist regime’s expansionary plan. The trillion-dollar plan, spearheaded by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, was intended to increase the regime’s influence through infrastructure investment.

In her first remarks on the matter, Meloni told reporters, “I think that we should improve our cooperation with China on trade, the economy.” She added that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) “has not produced the results that were expected.”

Italy’s BRI memorandum of understanding with China was set to expire in March 2024, and any decision to end the agreement had to be made before the end of the year. According to reports, Italy’s government had notified Chinese authorities that it intended to officially withdraw from the pact.

In recent years, Italy’s involvement in the BRI has faced criticism due to concerns about the impact of Chinese investment on the country’s economy. Italy’s exports to China did not increase significantly from 2019 to 2022, despite hopes of boosting trade with China through the BRI.

Prime Minister Meloni expressed regrets about Italy’s previous ties to the BRI, labeling it as “a big mistake.” Italy’s foreign minister also stated that the Chinese infrastructure program is no longer a priority for the country. The BRI has drawn criticism globally for burdening smaller nations with unsustainable debt obligations, diminishing its allure in Western nations.



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