Italy in the Arctic

Recorded from Rome, we cover the question of what Italy really wants in the Arctic and how it can achieve it. Marco Dordoni, todays guest, is a PhD candidate at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, where his doctoral work looks at how NATO's European non-Arctic states approach Arctic security, and a senior researcher at SIOI, the Rome institute that has shaped Italian thinking on international organizations and diplomacy since 1944.

Italy has no Arctic coastline and no Arctic territory, but it has held a seat on the Arctic Council since 2013, and in January 2026 it published its first new Arctic policy in a decade. Marco lays out Italy's mix of interests, from the strategic value of a place at the table alongside the US, Russia, and China, to the concrete stakes of Arctic shipping. If the Northern Sea Route opens for longer each year, it could pull traffic away from Suez and the Mediterranean, with real consequences for ports like Genoa, Trieste, and Taranto. We get into critical minerals and the recent Italy-Norway agreement, what Italy can realistically offer on Arctic defence, and why Rome keeps positioning itself as cautious but present.

We also cover Greenland, the Meloni-Trump relationship and where it has cooled, the Arctic Circle Rome Forum, and whether Italy actually has a long-term Arctic strategy at all.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

What does a Mediterranean country want in the Arctic? Today we are in Rome. Together with we, I have an expert, uh PhD candidate at Università Pestonieri di Perugia and senior researcher at Sioi, Marco Tardoni. Thank you so much for coming.

SPEAKER_01 0:18

Thank you. Thank you. It's a pleasure.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

I mean, Italy is a Mediterranean country. It has no Arctic coastline. It doesn't have any Arctic territory, but it's still interested. What does Italy want in the Arctic?

SPEAKER_01 0:32

To answer your question, I can start to say that Italy doesn't have a single interest in the Arctic, but rather a mix of different interests. First of all, I can start with the political dimension that is very uh central and has been central uh since uh 2013 when Italy uh joined the Arctic Council. So it means that uh have a seat for Italy at the table of uh this um uh such a strategic and important and relevant geopolitical arena where there is uh the US, Russia, and now nowadays more and more China, it's uh it's very uh important and relevant for Italy. Italy is also a middle power, a founding member of EU and NATO, and also a member of uh G7. So it means that being present and influential in the Arctic, also even if uh not a leading actor, is important also for enhancing its international status and also to strengthen its influence and political way within both these institutions. So this I can say uh is a strategic interest. Then Italy has also concrete interests, and the first concerns the maritime economy. The maritime economy and the sea has been central through the whole history, Italian history, and uh still is really central and a cornerstone for our economy, and many cities were built around ports and around maritime economy. Uh so it means that um, in particular, Italy is a peninsula, and so ports and maritime flows are really central. Uh so uh today the objective and Italy is carefully monitoring what is happening in the Arctic, and in particular, what is happening in development of the Arctic routes, especially North and Sea routes, because it means that if the North and Sea routes will be open longer for a long period of the year, could be uh affect Italian economy, could be affect imports from Asia because um like Arctic routes and uh north and sea routes has uh less navigation days, around 10 days, more or less, less than uh the Suez Channel routes, and uh uh could be affect also Mediterranean route, because Mediterranean today is a final stage of the world main economic route around the world, that is Suez Channel route. And also, for sure, could also put in economic economic risk cities like Genoa, Trieste, and Taranto that are very crucial for our economy and the ports and also development of the cities. So, yeah. And then Italy has also interest about the natural resources because for sure the enormous basins of entopled resources in the Arctic attracting a country poor of these uh type of resources, in particular, also and even more after the outbreak of Ukraine uh war in 2022, and the decision to cut uh gradually the gas from Russia. So, this is mean with uh repower EU Italy in the policy uh today and also since 2022, Arctic is uh a dossier also for energetic companies. And last but not least, there is also science that uh was in the past before this political um uh engagement was the the very first and main important uh symbol of Italy and Italy's presence in the Arctic, and still is because the Italian scientific community has a remarkable heritage and history, and is continuing to also collaborate and cooperate with other international scientists. So our dirigible Italia base is really important for us but also for the Arctic. So science uh remains also really crucial for the Italian role.

SPEAKER_00 5:24

But Italy in January this year in 2026, they published a new Arctic strategy, and there has been this increased focus on the Arctic because this is the first time in 10 years this has happened, right? So, what is what has changed? What's the deal with this Arctic strategy?

SPEAKER_01 5:44

So um I will start with uh similarities because um there is a continuation of uh Italy uh approach on the Arctic and uh is very similar to the cautious approach of Italy in this strategy like the the previous one. So we can start uh from the uh name of this uh document that is not a strategy, but is uh uh is called Italian Arctic policy, is a policy. That means that uh this choice is related in particular to be and to also come across not too invasive to the Arctic affairs, but to be with a foot back, but active, uh still active in uh in uh the uh Arctic affairs. Then another similarities is again science, is again a large part of strategy dedicated to science, this time more related to defense. So it's like this uh binary uh approach between science and defense is something that uh is a similarity, but is also something new in this uh in this document. But the the the the the last uh document and policy presents also many novelties. First of all, in my opinion, my view as a as a researcher, is that uh was prepared jointly by three ministries: the uh foreign ministry, uh the foreign affairs ministry, the um um defense ministries, and research and universities and university ministries. So this is uh different from the last one because the last one was more uh unilateral policy from uh Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So it means that the interest is also spreading more in the different ministries, and Italy wants to be more clear and more organized also about about the Arctic. Then another major change is the uh inclusion of a specific uh section on defense and security. Defense is with science, but also uh has a uh big role as a ministry of defense uh is pushing also some uh initiatives and pushing also uh foreign ministry uh to be more involved in the Arctic for sure. The first framework is NATO framework, but Italy wants to be also in a defense topic again, not with a with a leading uh role, but uh want to launch a signal and also to strengthen uh its role uh within the NATO framework. And then it's also interesting um that uh in the uh 2015 uh the main Italian stakeholder was Eni, as uh in this uh strategy had uh a dedicated section in this uh strategy. And this time in this uh new policy, attention is more distributed um across several sectors, so not just energy but also space, maritime, defense industries that uh have a role and was also mentioned in the economy part of the of the of this policy. Um and finally, I think, and I found because I I joined in the presentation in person, I found really interesting and really impressive as an Italian how this strategy was presented. Because uh uh was a highly significant uh place. This is a Villa Madama, that is a very significant and very important location for Italian diplomacy. It's usually reserved for a prestigious meeting involving prime minister, involving Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So also the location was something important, and in the presentation there was were uh speeches from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, uh Tajani, the Defence Ministry, uh Crosetto, and also uh Ministry of University and Research at Delini. That thing uh for an Italian posture uh around the world thing uh I found also really really significant, and also the signal uh to be again uh interest and to want to uh express uh um um a very a very important um uh interest about about those regions. Especially I think the audience that Italy wanted to target with this uh symbolic uh presentation was uh um in my view the European partners, France and Germany, that they are developing in this sense uh about the Arctic, and Italy doesn't want to be back in the Italian affairs, also in the Arctic affair that is becoming more and more relevant also in EU and NATO policy. At the same time, and maybe we talk uh later, also to the US, that uh at that time there was a relatively close relationship uh between Melonian and Donald Trump uh when uh when was presented this uh this strategy. So I think also Trump interest also in some way also pushed and um like pushed uh Italy to to to to be more active also in this uh far region, but also close for uh for many interests.

SPEAKER_00 11:51

That's very interesting to hear, and especially considering uh the Maloney-Trump relationship, it has been a bit ambivalent after his comments about the Pope. But but if we look at this, I mean if we go deeper into the US situation, I mean Defense Minister Crosseto called European troop deployments as the beginning of a joke to Greenland, right? And Maloney at the same time, she has had this unique relationship with Donald Trump, albeit we'll see how damaged it is now and if she can still be a mediator. But how has have the relations between the United States and Italy affected, like directly affected Italy in the Arctic? Have they affected Italy in the Arctic at all?

SPEAKER_01 12:33

So yeah, uh interesting question because I think we can we can divide uh into two phases this uh close relationship between uh Melonian Trump. Again, Melonian Trump is more individual relationship than constructive because uh construct with uh really bilateral um about the Arctic. And so since Trump returned as a US president uh in 2025, Meloni's foreign uh uh policy in general changed it, and the Arctic dossier in particular also has tried to position Italy as a as a bridge between the EU and Trump's United States. So, like this this force phase we can see in particular in uh in Greenland case that compared to France, Germany, and other European countries, and as you mentioned, Italy did not send soldiers uh to Greenland and avoided uh taking uh a strong public position against Trump. Um just limited with uh diplomatic uh position, but again, to not uh break this bridge between EU and US. Also, because um we have to take account also uh that in this uh period there were also a particular framework in uh in uh EU and uh together uh with uh Orban's Jungary, Italy was often seen by US administration as one of uh the friendliest uh countries in Europe by Trump. We have the second phase. And this second phase put uh in uh like many obstacles of these strategies that Meloni wanted to continue and to develop. That we can say a foreign policy equilibrium in such meaning. And uh this strategy faced uh several several uh turning points, major turning points. I can say that uh the US confrontation with Iran, for example, became economically and politically difficult for Italy to support. At the same time, again, fall in Hungary weakened Meloni closest political allias in Europe, because Meloni also uh the strong role uh of Meloni in you also depend on this political uh wave of far right. And last but absolutely not least, probably the most important factor was the very pure and defeat result for the Italian government in a national referendum on justice in Italy that happened uh a few months ago. And this development combination of factors reduced Meloni political strength and confidence internally, and weakened also Trump credibility within EU, but also within public opinion in Italy. And that is very important. And and I think and I see also this turning point weakened this kind of foreign policy equilibrium.

SPEAKER_00 16:03

We can see an increased not only focus on the Arctic, but also events surrounding the Arctic in in Italy. I mean, the Arctic Circle Rome Forum was earlier this uh this year, not that long ago. Have people from all over the world, experts from all over the world, coming to Italy to talk about the Arctic, also talk about Italy and the Arctic. What are the main takeaways from the forum?

SPEAKER_01 16:27

I think that um so the takeaways were many. Uh the contest was uh very high level, the guests uh was uh were really, really important and really relevant uh for Italy. Non-Arctic states with no Arctic coastline uh was very that important uh event. And I think I'm not uh wrong if I say the very first important meeting about the Arctic in Rome. So if we see the context and all the diplomatic meaning was very strong. I'm I'm a I'm a researcher, so I can try uh to go a bit uh deep on on the really meaning and why Italy wanted to organize. So uh also, as Bernini uh said, was uh um was a thought that Italy has after the Creosphere um Forum that Macron organized in France. So again, it was a reflection that Italy doesn't want to be back from European allies and from European um also parts. And um I think um was also important for uh for the the government to again really confident this interest about the Arctic. And for sure was um was interesting also the format because it was not just uh um Arctic Circle Forum that is the the most important conference uh in the Einorf, but also was the um polar um polar da, so also about the science, was also a very important momentum for the scientific community of Italy and to also develop and um like open um uh roads for for new cooperation and new collaborations with uh with um partners of the Arctic. And also, I think one takeaways that I see really interest was the will of the Italian companies to be more active and to be more engaged also in the Arctic because there are many opportunities for uh for Italian companies and uh for Italian economy. Um again moving in the European frameworks, but also having Norway as an important partners there. So, like then to sum up, uh I have to say that was a very high-level event that helps uh Italy to strengthen, to reaffirm its its interests, and also Rome, elected Rome um as an Arctic capital for a few days.

SPEAKER_00 19:27

I mean it's it's the dream of every Arctic researcher to go to Rome to do some Arctic research. I mean, it's fantastic. We should have I mean, I should have been researching the Mediterranean or something, that would be much more nice in terms of weather. But you mentioned Norway and and you also have mentioned uh different like interests that Italy has. And uh they recently signed this agreement on critical minerals, and you know, critical minerals are super hot topic in the Arctic right now. Everybody's talking about critical minerals. And what would you say is the Arctic element to this? What is the deal and what is the interest that Italy has in critical minerals in the Arctic?

SPEAKER_01 20:02

Yeah, um was um very interesting development for uh for Italy. Again, it was uh represented by the the the ministry that is uh um um a tour in the the Norwegian Arctic, visited Trusa, visited also Kissat because uh was about critical minerals but also space agreement, and I think there are both sectors that uh are really important for uh for Italy. Italy like is not moving alone, uh, as always represents uh a push also and a will of European Union countries and European Union to move forward to to the north. But for Italy kritical minerals are really crucial because uh we started with some green policies and some green initiatives many projects. And then when was um uh relented and reduced by the outbreak of the Ukraine war that also forced Italy but not just Italy, but Europe in general to relocate these resources to to defense. But uh the green and uh green transition energy transition is something that that Italy wants to to to to restart to to follow. And these critical minerals for a poor country like Italy is very important because now Italy like has this uh like sustain this uh green economy and green uh industries with Asian imports, in particular. from China. So what what want to be able to do Italy in the future is like also to deserve and also to to see uh European countries and Norway as um as one of the of the main of the main uh uh customer on this uh on this uh on a way to to to enhance uh Norwegian and uh Italian uh relationship because Norway was always the first country and uh probably um our our main country uh in uh our main uh partners in uh in the Arctic so we have a very important uh relationship with this development both in space and uh critical minerals I think could be could be also open a road for for new for new partnership in many others also and not not not uh just from Norway to Italy but also from Italy to Norway because Italy has many things also to to to to export to to to Norway and Artic in general we are uh heritage in maritime uh economy maritime defense maritime industries and compan Italian companies are already development uh projects with uh Norwegian Swedish Finnish and also there is this uh this view towards Greenland and also carefully monitoring what is be uh what what will be the future of Greenland to also to to give the opportunity to Italian companies to take some some opportunities there.

SPEAKER_00 23:49

I mean but still I've I heard the Norwegian ambassador to Italy speak yesterday and he said that the world looks completely different from Italy than it does from Norway and this is something that is reflected for example in the view on Russia uh there are completely different debates on Ukraine in Italy than there are in Norway and also different perspectives but still there are some common interests in Arctic defense and Italy is very prominent in the Arctic defense right so so so what I wanted to ask you is what is the actual room for maneuver that Italy has in this Arctic defense? What what can they contribute with? What are they contributing with what is happening? Is it enough? Is it not enough? What's the what's the whole shebang?

SPEAKER_01 24:36

No and Italy like other European countries again Germany again France want to be active and want to be uh there to support NATO when we talk about defence and uh European Union when we talk about economy when we talk about critical uh raw materials um also because italy could be uh cover a role in the Arctic just uh in these frameworks without these frameworks I'm not sure that uh that Italy uh as uh could be cover a role want to be there to support uh both for sure Italy interest is main in the south is main Mediterranean but now the challenges that uh we we already seen in Mediterranean for for a long time now is reproducing reproducing in in the Arctic so Italy uh can be can be contribute for example in critical uh in the defense of critical uh maritime infrastructures and also in uh in the maritime logistics because we have uh uh really remarkable heritage on on on these maritime uh affairs and then about Russia uh about Russia uh Italy moved following the the the the the main narrative of European countries and uh Europe allies also if probably uh for Italy as as as for Germany cutting the gas uh from Russia was a very very important important decision and also uh put uh economy in a serious uh risk but now this is the pathway and Italy want to want to want to follow this at least this government because next year would be the election that could be also really important again because uh in my view I see Italian uh interest in the Arctic uh the turning point so we can say uh that there is uh uh before melonian uh Italian interest and after Melonian Trump Italian interest so this uh a combination between uh Trump interest to the towards uh Canada and Greenland also uh I think is very important for understanding also this uh changing and also this uh new uh interests of Italy in the Arctic. But then let's say that in the elections you become the leader of everything Arctic in Italy and you will have that mandate for as long as you want what is the first thing you do I think I think that um Artica uh has many potential for a country like Italy and Italy has many potential for uh for Arctic countries. I think that uh the problem of Italy uh has um is no stable and no long-term strategy because also this one is like a policy is very cautious and in the end uh you you didn't find really really what Italy wants to to perceive and what what what Italy wants to pursue in uh in a region of of the Arctic. So um I can say that Italy still has uh uh very important influence uh in the EU in uh many world uh institutions so as to use this historic power historic influence also to be more active and to be more decisive in in in a region of Arctic that for sure will will be important and relevant for uh the the future of of Italy and I think the world so like if I have to say one thing for example to know to know more about the Arctic to know more about the institutions of the Arctic to organize better the the engagement of the Arctic within the ministries because now we have many events but not many people that know and know how to move. For example in my parliamentary speech that I had the pleasure to to lead a few months ago one of my points was Arctic Economic Council for example because Italy moved um more than a decade ago in political sphere but in economical sphere it's it's now opaque the role of Italy and also companies in a very objective and also very particular cases are not able to move in different legislations, different countries with different rules and laws so they are obstacles that maybe in the strategies couldn't see but when in a practical Italian companies want to really take some opportunities there is the moment that the Italian companies find themselves in difficulty. So these I think also connect more with economic institutions to be more trade diplomatic also to understand not just what we want but also what could be win-win approach for us because we we again are um like non-Arctic states and I I think uh many things will change in the future but this geography couldn't change.

SPEAKER_00 30:30

Absolutely I mean I get so motivated listening to this I'm like they better hire you you better be the representative no but Marcos thank you so much it's been a pleasure to have you it's been a pleasure for me and thank you for this uh opportunity. Yeah and thank you for listening