„Rozszerzone Morze Śródziemne” jako strategiczny kierunek włoskiej polityki zagranicznej i bezpieczeństwa

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„THE ENLARGED MEDITERRANEAN” AS A STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF ITALIAN FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY

„The Enlarged Mediterranean” is a strategic and geopolitical concept expressing the extent of Italian national, economic and security interests in the near and distant Mediterranean. This area, encompassing the entire Mediterranean basin and the areas directly and indirectly adjacent to it (North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Near and Middle East, the Black Sea), has become a priority focus of Italian foreign and security policy for several years. Indeed, the country’s most vital political and economic interests are concentrated in this area: the security of maritime trade routes, an area for the exploitation and supply of energy resources and a region of action to counter illegal immigration and terrorism. The strategic importance of this region for Italian foreign, security and defense policy increased after the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. The significant increase in the region’s instability, with less interest from the EU, NATO and the US in the „southern flank”, has forced Italy to concentrate its efforts on Africa, a particularly sensitive area within the „enlarged Mediterranean”. Indeed, from the African continent come Italy’s most important security challenges: illegal immigration and energy security for the economy, as well as opportunities for economic expansion and the accentuation of its role as an international middle power. For this reason, Italy has become one of the main initiators and promoters of a new approach to cooperation with Africa (through the Mattei Plan for Africa”) and guarantors of security in the region. The aim of this article is to systematically analyze Italy’s foreign and se curity policy in the area of the „enlarged Mediterranean” and to illustrate, with the example of its specific involvement in the African area, its growing international role.