Tensions are building up within the Government. Among the various reasons for disagreement between the Lega and the 5 Star Movement, theItalian accession to the Silk Road announced by Premier Conte a few days ago.
After the concerns expressed by the United States and the European Union about the possible Italian opening, the Northern League allies are holding back the pentastellati ardor who distance themselves using the usual formula: before saying Yes or No, "we want to read the cards". Even if, paradoxically, the main promoter of this Memorandum of Understanding is the undersecretary of the League for Economic Development, Michele Geraci.
The Carroccio therefore finds itself having to slow down on two fronts: an internal one, trying to dilute Geraci's positions, and an external one, with Matteo Salvini and Giancarlo Giorgetti trying to understand the real intentions of the 5 Star Movement, trying to reassure the EU and USA.
CHINA AND THE SILK ROAD: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT WORKS
The so-called Silk Road is actually called Belt and Road (which literally means belt and road) and is an all-round infrastructure investment plan concerning ports, railways, energy, roads, telecommunications, etc. launched from China almost 6 years ago. Since 2013, 67 countries have joined the project through the formula of the Memorandum of Understanding, a document which indicates that the two parties have a common line of action, but which does not have the power to oblige compliance with a contractual obligation , like a real deal.
The Silk Road stretches in two "lines" from East to West. The first is terrestrial and crosses Central Asia. The second is maritime and passes through the Indian Ocean, up to Africa, pointing towards the North.
It is therefore easy to understand how Italy represents an ideal continuation of this "imaginary line", through investments which, according to rumors, could involve two key ports for our country such as those of Genoa and above all Trieste.
THE SILK ROAD: THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT
“If it's a question of helping Italian companies to invest abroad, we're available to reason with anyone. If it is a question of colonizing Italy and its businesses by foreign powers, no”. With these words Matteo Salvini tries to pursue a double purpose, on the one hand to reassure the European and US allies, worried about the umpteenth unpredictable position taken by Italy in foreign policy (remember yellow vests and Venezuela), on the other warns the allies pentastellati, inviting them to be cautious.
We'll find out if his intent is successful on Friday 22 March, when President Xi Jimping will arrive in Rome and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Silk Road will be signed.
In the meantime, the undersecretary to the Prime Minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, also intervenes, who in the press conference does not mince words in agitating the specter of the Golden share.
"The agreement - said Giorgetti - must certainly contain noble intentions to improve economic and trade relations between Italy and China, but not commitments that could create strategic interference for the consolidated positioning of the country". Also because, he remembers, our country has “a regulation, the golden share, which can also be improved, to protect the country's strategic interests that come before all the others". Therefore, the agreement "should serve to improve economic and trade relations but cannot go beyond this border which is the country's strategic interest".
A message immediately understood by both the deputy premier, Luigi Di Maio, and by the undersecretary Geraci. It is he, Northern League, the man who has worked the most on this memorandum at Mise that the M5S is registered and it is always he who considers Italy's accession to the Silk Road an indispensable opportunity. In an interview given to Courier, Geraci reassures: “The memorandum does not contain any obligation on our part and on principles it adheres to European values – he says -. It is China that has come closer to our positions, rather than the other way around".
On the matter, he tries to appease Di Maio who tries to reassure Washington, the only way to reassure even the allies of the Government: the one with China "is not a political agreement", says the deputy premier, but it serves to "help our companies bring Made in Italy, our excellence, our know-how to a market that is asking us for it right now and towards which we must never go". And he adds: “Yesterday I heard from the United States raise an alarm about this agreement, on the Silk Road that Italy wants to sign with China. We are allies of the United States and respect all concerns, but let's be clear: if we are looking to the Silk Road to China for our exports, it is not to make political agreements with China".
Palazzo Chigi instead it touches on another sensitive topic: “In collaboration with China, as with any other country, we pay maximum attention to the defense of our national interests, to the protection of strategic infrastructures, including those of telecommunications, and therefore to cyber security. The text of the possible Memorandum on the Silk Road "at the request of Italy, sets this possible collaboration very clearly on the principles, dear to the whole EU, of transparency, financial and environmental sustainability".
CHINA AND ITALY AGREEMENT: THE IRRITATION OF USA AND EU
The opposition of United States on a possible agreement between Italy and China is strong and the US Security Council has left no room for misunderstandings: "Signing the BRI (Belt and road initiative, ed.) lends legitimacy to China's predatory approach to investments and will not bring benefits to the Italian people".
Concern also from Brussels which underlines how China remains a competitor and therefore the Member States of the Union must be united and act responsibly. Words clearly directed to Italy, which however is not explicitly mentioned, contained in the Commission document, divided into ten key points, which will be approved on Tuesday and will arrive at the European Council on 21 March.
