English for Diplomacy: Italy and the enlarged (or wider) Mediterranean

Current challenges to Mediterranean stability in 2025 include geopolitical conflicts, energy security concerns, governance issues, climate change impacts, and migration pressures. Escalating conflicts in the Middle East have disrupted energy supply chains and threaten infrastructure, while political instability and governance failures hinder economic development and increase investor uncertainty. Additionally, the region is experiencing intensified climate change effects, and a growing number of displaced people from conflicts in Africa and the Middle East are increasing migration pressures.

Geopolitical and security challenges

Escalating conflicts: The Israel-Lebanon war and the war in Gaza have strained regional alliances and created significant instability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Hybrid threats: Sea lanes and coastal infrastructure are under threat from hybrid attacks, sabotage, and disruption.

Shifting power dynamics: Competition between regional powers like Turkey and Egypt, alongside instability in countries like Syria and Libya, fuels ongoing tensions.

Energy security challenges

Conflict impact: Ongoing conflicts risk derailing the Eastern Mediterranean's potential as a key alternative energy supplier for Europe, which was a goal in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

Uncertainty: The security situation casts doubt on future energy exploration and export plans, and impacts existing energy agreements.

Governance and economic challenges

Government-citizen divide: There is an increasing gap between governments and their citizens in many parts of the region.

Investor uncertainty: Persistent governance problems and regulatory barriers in the MENA region affect investor confidence.

Governance issues: Political instability, weak governance, and the spread of extremist groups remain significant challenges.

Environmental and migration challenges

Climate change: The Mediterranean is warming faster than the global average, leading to significant environmental impacts.

Migration: Humanitarian crises in Sudan and the Sahel are increasing the number of asylum seekers, with significant numbers heading towards North Africa and Europe.

Environmental degradation: Marine life and ecosystems are under threat from pollution, habitat degradation, and offshore development.

https://www.esteri.it/en/politica-estera-e-cooperazione-allo-sviluppo/aree_geografiche/mediterr_mo/

https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/med-2025-il-mediterraneo-globale-oltre-le-crisi-220698

See also https://youngdip.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-red-sea-and-maritime-security.html for the Red Sea and maritime security

And https://youngdip.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-black-sea.html for the Black Sea

https://www.federagione.org/2024/07/18/il-presidente-meloni-il-mediterraneo-e-una-priorita-senza-italia-e-libia-non-esiste/

https://www.huffingtonpost.it/blog/2024/08/13/news/il_mediterraneo_allargato_e_la_proiezione_italiana_dalle_primavere_arabe_al_piano_mattei-16687919/

https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/italy-globally-connected-mediterranean-power

https://www.ispionline.it/en/publication/rethinking-italys-enlarged-mediterranean-176932

https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/med-2025-il-mediterraneo-globale-oltre-le-crisi-220698

https://med.ispionline.it/

and the expanding involvement of Italy in the Indo-Pacific region

https://www.geopolitica.info/italy-indopacific-tilt-2025/

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/italy-can-play-a-role-in-the-indo-pacific-but-must-do-it-its-own-way/

https://www.esteri.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/THE_ITALIAN_CONTRIBUTION_TO_THE_EU_STRATEGY_FOR_THE_INDO_PACIFIC.pdf

The EU and the Mediterranean https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_25_792

https://north-africa-middle-east-gulf.ec.europa.eu/news/pact-mediterranean-one-sea-one-pact-one-future-shared-ambition-region-2025-10-16_en

https://italy.representation.ec.europa.eu/notizie-ed-eventi/notizie/patto-il-mediterraneo-un-mare-un-patto-un-futuro-unambizione-condivisa-la-regione-2025-10-16_it

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operazione_Irini

https://www.operationirini.eu/

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operazione_Aspides

https://www.marina.difesa.it/cosa-facciamo/per-la-difesa-sicurezza/operazioni-in-corso/Pagine/operazione_aspides.aspx

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/maritime-security_en

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025JC0009

https://www.iss.europa.eu/publications/briefs/war-footing-securing-critical-energy-infrastructure

https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-security/security-gas-supply_en

NATO operations and activities in the Mediterranean

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_70759.htm

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_136233.htm

Italy’s naval and military commitment to the Mediterranean 2025

https://www.startinsight.eu/en/italy-the-2025-2027-defence-white-paper/

https://theaviationist.com/2025/10/10/italy-2025-defense-plan/

https://www.difesa.it/eng/primo-piano/operation-aspides-italy-takes-over-from-greece-in-command-of-the-eu-mission-in-the-red-sea/74606.html

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operazione_Mediterraneo_Sicuro

https://www.difesa.it/operazionimilitari/op-intern-corso/operazione-mediterraneo-sicuro/index/27208.html

https://www.marina.difesa.it/media-cultura/Notiziario-online/Pagine/20250516_MedStrike_2025.aspx

Italia and some of its economic and cooperation partners in the Mediterranean

https://www.cidob.org/en/publications/north-african-energy-links-are-redrawn-italy-becomes-europes-southern-gas-hub

https://eccoclimate.org/it/transizione-energetica-nel-mediterraneo-ripensare-i-partenariati-tra-italia-e-nord-africa/

https://www.terna.it/en/projects/projects-common-interest/italy-tunisia-interconnection

https://www.governo.it/en/articolo/president-meloni-s-press-statement-fifth-italy-algeria-intergovernmental-summit/29333

https://www.ecomondo.com/en/news-detail/italy-egypt-a-growing-partnership-economic-cooperation-and-investment-relations?newsId=2588888

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2025/05/203791/ocp-italys-financial-group-sace-announce-e365-million-green-financing-agreement/

https://en.ilsole24ore.com/art/renewed-libya-memorandum-how-migrant-rules-work-minniti-wrote-AH974MCD

https://decode39.com/11520/turkey-italy-a-partnership-bridging-the-mediterranean/

Italy and the Adriatic/Balkans region

https://www.esteri.it/it/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/approfondimenti/2023/02/un-piano-strategico-per-la-regione-adriatico-balcanica/

https://www.esteri.it/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Piano-Regione-Adriatico-Balcanica_DEF-2.pdf

https://www.rainews.it/articoli/2023/01/meloni-allue-lallargamento-ai-balcani-occidentali-deve-diventare-una-priorit-88d02298-ecfe-4d43-ac93-28144c6672fe.html

https://www.cespi.it/it/eventi-attualita/dibattiti/la-ue-i-balcani-la-scommessa-dellallargamento/limpegno-dellitalia-nei

Migration

https://en.unav.edu/web/global-affairs/migracion-en-el-mediterraneo-central-accciones-de-la-ue-y-de-italia

Italy's current strategy to control Mediterranean migration combines external policies like the "Rome Process" to partner with origin countries, an EU-level focus on pushing for a broader EU strategy that emphasizes strengthening external border controls and partnerships with third countries (with fewer calls for internal EU redistribution) and internal measures such as multi-year "Flow Decrees" to manage legal migration and create pathways for workers. This is a new, multi-year approach to migration that sets regular entry quotas for foreign workers in sectors like agriculture, tourism, and caregiving, aiming to balance economic needs with reduced irregular migration.

Moreover, the government aims to use its economic and migration diplomacy to build influence in Africa and address the root causes of instability, as can be seen with the Mattei Plan while strengthening and streamlining legal pathways for both seasonal and non-seasonal workers through multi-year decrees.

Italy and Africa – the Mattei Plan

https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/il-piano-mattei-rilanciare-lafrica-policy-dellitalia-182414?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInqCb5s-LiQMVMo2DBx3zWBkvEAAYASAAEgLF_PD_BwE Download the paper

https://eccoclimate.org/it/summit-italia-africa-opportunita-e-rischi-del-piano-mattei/

https://eccoclimate.org/the-italy-africa-summit-opportunities-and-risks-of-the-mattei-plan/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFMYw0qt6vc

Italy and the Sahel

https://www.esteri.it/en/politica-estera-e-cooperazione-allo-sviluppo/aree_geografiche/africa/sahel-e-africa-occidentale/

https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/italia-in-sahel-tra-priorita-nazionali-e-politiche-europee-135187#:~:text=Le%20forze%20italiane%20sono%20infatti,EUNAVFOR%20Somalia%2C%20EUCAP%2DSahel%2C

https://www.aics.gov.it/news/dialoghi-dallafrica-2025-limpegno-aics-nelle-aree-di-crisi-del-sahel-e-corno-dafrica/?lang=en

Italy and Israel

https://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/esteri/40608651/meloni-telefona-netanyahu-attacchi-unifil-inaccettabili.html

https://www.esteri.it/en/sala_stampa/archivionotizie/comunicati/2025/08/appello-dellitalia-e-degli-stati-ue-a-israele-per-pieno-accesso-degli-operatori-umanitari-e-delle-ong-a-gaza/