After embarrassing years in which our country has prostrated itself at the feet of a regime that is hostile to every aspect of democracy, a Prime Minister "seems" to have taken the opposite path.
We will never forget the subjection manifested (moreover in the name of all Italians!) to the totalitarian regime of the People's Republic of China and its banner: the "five star red flag".
A premise: perhaps the Russian idiocy in falling into the Ukrainian trap could surprise, the fact that the real war appointment for the next few years will be with the Beijing regime will not be able to do it.
The United States has been preparing for years, militarily and diplomatically: for example, they let Pakistan (together with Afghanistan) go into the hands of Beijing some time ago.
Italy must understand that it is not "just scraping by" that one can have an effective foreign policy and relative long-term returns. But on the other hand, for the 68 governments we've had in 77 years, the "long term" has always been maybe... two years?
Let's now talk about Prime Minister Meloni's recent visit to the next global geopolitical co-protagonist: India.
The Asian giant is the fifth largest economy in the world1 and the third in terms of purchasing power. Economic reforms in recent decades have transformed it into the second fastest growing economy. I speak of "decades" because, unlike the country of the “salagadula”, the economic results - solid and real - can only be seen after some time.
I still remember the meeting in South India with a journalist in Bangalore in 1994. The editorial staff had sent her to make a report in a privileged development area for foreign investment. I remember the perplexity with which I had received that political programme: visiting many Indian areas made me think that, apart from the rickshaws and a few telephones, the country must be identical to past centuries. Bangalore was defined as the "Paris of India": well-kept streets and public gardens, low-rise and not quite "modern" buildings. Three and a half million inhabitants.
Then I remember with astonishment in 2009 my return to what from "Paris" seemed to have become a "Hong Kong": wide highways, skyscrapers and giants of Silicon Valley who had established their industrial and research centers there, a population that was already doubled then (today almost 13 million!). If in my first trip the main ambition of a student was still to become a "doctor" one day, after less than a generation it had changed to an "engineer".
Let's not forget that the third letter of the acronym BRICS2 it is his: “India”.
It was already 14 years ago that it was impossible not to think of the immense state funds donated to the mafias since the post-war period, formally "for the development of the South", in the face of poor, late and/or bankruptcy, if any, results. But we will address this point at another time, and perhaps in another square...
India, 75 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations, is now recognized as a "Strategic Partner" of our country. The joint release reported the broadest range of collaborations.
Since we are interested in the military one, we highlight the specific perspectives: industrial cooperation and co-production of weapon systems.
India has been increasing its defense budget for years. Today is at third place, after the USA and the People's Republic of China. Obviously, while preparing to become the "new China" economically in the short term, it does not yet have a national military industry capable of covering the needs at 360°.
Historically, foreign suppliers have compensated for the gaps, to name a few: the Soviet Union, Russia, the United States, France, Germany, Israel, Belgium... Italy, with some companies, has also been timidly present. When the game seemed to become more important, we were masters of Tafazzism, then blaming India...
So do you understand the unique and - for once - "original" opportunity for our politics?
Returning to the final statement of the Meloni-Modi meeting: military support initiatives will increase, starting with the ATALANTA operation.
Soon we will see our pilots train together with Indian colleagues (up Flurry e The Mirage, French…) or perhaps our alpine troops on the peaks of the Himalayas?
2 BRICS is an acronym, used in international economics, which identifies five countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) sharing some similar characteristics, including: the condition of developing economies, a large population, a vast territory, abundant strategic natural resources and have been characterized, in the last decade, by strong growth in GDP and share in world trade. (source: Italian Parliament)
Photo: Presidency of the Council of Ministers
