Italy has officially announced its withdrawal from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to the government. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration has informed Beijing that Italy will no longer participate in the BRI before the year’s end deadline.
In 2019, Italy became the only major Western nation to join the BRI, which is one of China’s ambitious trade and infrastructure projects. However, this move faced significant criticism from the United States and other countries at the time.
The BRI, launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to invest approximately US$1 trillion across Asia and Europe. It involves various projects such as the development of new railways and ports to connect China with Europe and other parts of Asia.
In response to Italy’s decision to withdraw from the initiative, a spokesperson from the Chinese foreign ministry did not directly mention Rome but expressed China’s opposition to any attempts to smear Belt and Road cooperation.
During a visit by EU leaders to Beijing, President Xi discussed China’s broader relations with Europe, emphasizing the need for partnership and the elimination of interference. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged China as the EU’s most important trading partner but highlighted the need to address existing imbalances and differences.
The US has consistently criticized China’s BRI, labeling it as “debt-trap diplomacy.” Washington argues that China’s projects involve financially unsustainable ventures, giving Beijing undue influence for its own strategic goals.
Italy, being the largest among the 18 EU members to have joined the BRI, was set to renew its membership automatically in March next year unless it notified China of its withdrawal by the end of this year. Prime Minister Meloni had previously criticized the previous government’s decision to join the initiative, referring to it as a serious mistake, and had indicated her inclination to withdraw.
