Italy's Geopolitical Crossroads: Navigating the Competition Between China and the U.S. in the Context of the Belt and Road Initiative

This thesis seeks to elucidate Italy's unique position as the sole EU and G7 member participating in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from a geopolitical perspective. It examines the motivations behind Italy's decision to join the initiative, the objectives it aimed to achieve, and the implications of its involvement. Against the backdrop of escalating competition between China and the United States and significant global shifts since 2020, this study analyzes Italy's relations with China. Additionally, it explores the reasons underlying Italy's recent decision to withdraw from the project amidst changing geopolitical dynamics. Drawing upon primary sources such as white papers from both countries' ministries of foreign affairs, as well as secondary sources including literature reviews and discourse analysis, this research aims to answer the fundamental question: What factors drove Italy to undertake such a risky geopolitical move by joining China's Belt and Road Initiative?