Europe, Italy and India: In Conversation with Emanuele Rossi
An Analytical Report Based on the Conversation
The Politeia Research Foundation (PRF) interviewed Emanuele Rossi on the geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges confronting Europe, in general, and Italy, in particular. The conversation also focused on improving the bilateral relationship between India and Italy. The following analysis is based on the conversation.
US President Donald Trump’s foreign and trade policies have taken many European countries by surprise. Specifically, Trump’s statements on Greenland have caused considerable strain within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) framework. Emanuele Rossi concurred with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s approach, recognising that the Greenland crisis is “a moment of responsibility, a moment to de-escalate, erase misunderstandings and bring the issue fully within the NATO alliance.” Noting that a rift in the NATO “would benefit the rivals of the West”, Emanuele Rossi added that “if Trump’s concern is to avoid Greenland falling under Chinese influence, the right approach is dialogue with Europe, not confrontation.”
The President Trump administration’s tariff policies have also placed considerable strain on the global economy. Furthermore, formalising new bilateral trading agreements is the preferred approach of President Trump. Consequently, there has been a shift from multilateralism to the celebration of bilateral arrangements in the global economy. Many countries have endured tough trade negotiations with the US. It is unlikely that the world trading system will be revived after President Trump concludes his second term. Emanuele Rossi pertinently notes that “the current strategic outlook (on trade) will likely persist in US policy.”
Because of President Trump’s policies, there is a growing view in Europe that the transatlantic partnership cannot be relied upon. Therefore, it is imperative for Europe to deepen economic relationships with other regions and countries worldwide. Emanuele Rossi noted that, in addition to scaling up economic engagement with Mercosur, the EU is exploring “EU-India FTA….similar FTAs with the Gulf region and also with Asian countries, starting with like-minded ones such as Japan and South Korea.”
More specifically, under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italy is also scaling up political and economic interactions with Asian countries. During PM Meloni’s recent visit to Japan and South Korea, Emanuele Rossi notes that the conversations focused on “maritime security and interconnected security between the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic spheres.” Emanuele Rossi further opines that Italy and other European countries’ enhanced economic engagement with Asian countries constitutes a de-risking strategy and a “means of protecting trade and industrial supply chains from excessive dependence on rivals, particularly China.”
Italy and other European countries are eager to participate in new frameworks such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which was launched on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi in 2023. Reflecting on the new corridors, Emanuele Rossi states: “Italy believes Trieste can serve as a European hub for the IMEC, as Trieste is well-connected to Central, Northern, and Eastern Europe and could link the IMEC with initiatives such as the Three Seas Initiative.” Around 13 European sovereign states located close to and between the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas launched the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) to promote peace and prosperity in the region. Therefore, the successful operationalisation of the IMEC will have a positive spillover impact for European countries. However, the volatile security situation in the Middle East is preventing the IMEC from realising its full potential.
To overcome such challenges, Emanuele Rossi calls for an Italy-India economic corridor linking the cities of Trieste and Mumbai. While IMEC remains on the table, Emanuele Rossi notes that the Italy-India economic corridor would benefit both countries and would require developing port infrastructure and harmonising customs procedures to facilitate trade. Suggesting that “Italy can become a gateway for Indian trade, commerce and strategic interests in Europe,” Emanuele Rossi envisions a bilateral relationship with robust cooperation across sectors such as “machinery, advanced technologies, agri-food and more.”
The operationalisation of IMEC is occurring amid the opening of Arctic trade routes due to global warming. However, Emanuele Rossi cautions against neglecting IMEC and other routes, such as the Suez. Emanuele Rossi argues that “from a geopolitical perspective, the Arctic will likely be dominated by Russia and, to a lesser extent, by China…It is not a low-risk route for Europe or Asian democracies.”
Emanuele Rossi states that his recent visit to India deepened his understanding of India’s multilingual policy. The visit prompted him to recognise the “need to cultivate multiple perspectives: Indian, Gulf, African, Chinese, and broaden our worldview.” Increased multipolarity in global politics demands a deeper understanding of the foreign policies of emerging powers, such as India. Perhaps, as Emanuele Rossi hints, there is a need to develop inclusive worldviews or cultivate the habit of trying to understand diverse worldviews. Such an enterprise can succeed only through greater exchange of ideas between Europe and India.
– Report prepared by Sanjay Pulipaka
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Transcript of the Conversation
Sanjay Pulipaka: Hello. I’m Sanjay Pulipaka. Welcome to the latest edition of Global Perspectives. Today we have with us Emanuele Rossi from Italy. He is an international affairs analyst and a senior analyst at Decode39 and Formiche, two of Italy’s leading news platforms. Welcome to Global Perspectives, Emmanuel.
Emanuele Rossi: Thank you, Sanjay. Thank you for your invitation. I’m very glad to speak here.
Sanjay Pulipaka: Emmanuel, you have been writing extensively about international politics on various platforms. What is your evaluation of the geopolitical challenges and opportunities confronting Europe at this specific point in time?
Emanuele Rossi: I believe the principal issue Europe has to confront at this moment is geo-economics. Let me explain. This is the era of corridors. Corridors connect geopolitical and geostrategic regions, and Europe has to manage these connections carefully. At present, it is not easy to rely only on the transatlantic dimension of geopolitical and geo-economic issues.
Europe, therefore, has to try to arrange new kinds of agreements, for example, Mercosur, the EU-India FTA, the great opportunity of IMEC, similar FTAs with the Gulf region and also with Asian countries, starting with like-minded ones such as Japan and South Korea.
Sanjay Pulipaka: How do you see the recent developments around Greenland, particularly U.S. President Trump’s statements? How has Europe responded, and what should Europe’s approach be?
Emanuele Rossi: I think this is a moment that risks escalation from both sides, because it is not easy to operate in this way within the transatlantic framework. Recently, President Trump spoke about the possibility of a meeting with Mark Rutte, the NATO Secretary General. I hope this kind of discussion will help resolve the crisis.
The natural forum for such discussions is NATO. I agree with our Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, when she says this is a moment of responsibility, a moment to de-escalate, erase misunderstandings and bring the issue fully within the NATO alliance.
It is impossible to imagine two crucial parts of NATO and the transatlantic relationship entering into a split, because this would benefit the rivals of the West. If Trump’s concern is to avoid Greenland falling under Chinese influence, the right approach is dialogue with Europe, not confrontation.
Europe, on its part, should not respond with hostility. The goal should be a win-win solution, one that works for the U.S., for Europe and for the EU through NATO discussions and a common approach to managing Greenland’s security and Europe’s security guarantees.
Sanjay Pulipaka: Another dimension of Trump’s policies is his trade policy, including tariffs and sanctions. How has this affected Europe’s economic engagement with Asia, especially India?
Emanuele Rossi: Trump’s approach is transactional. This is not a moment of ideology, but of transactions. In this context, Europe, India and the Gulf countries can try to find ways to manage and accommodate Trump’s approach.
Trump is relatively straightforward: he wants something, and if he does not get it, he applies pressure through tariffs or sanctions. However, the EU and India share common ground with the U.S., we are democracies, we share values on trade, economics, geo-economics and politics.
We can therefore try to accommodate U.S. concerns without creating divisions. It is not easy, especially when force is used as a first approach, but our common interest is to avoid fragmentation and understand not just Trump, but the broader U.S. position. Trump is a phase, but this strategic outlook will likely persist in U.S. policy.
Sanjay Pulipaka: If we look more specifically at Italian Prime Minister Meloni’s policy toward Asia, how should we understand Italy’s economic engagement with Asian powers?
Emanuele Rossi: Italy currently lacks a formal Indo-Pacific strategy document, which is a limitation. However, there is a clear path emerging from the Italian government and Prime Minister Meloni.
Her recent trips to Japan and South Korea were very clear in signalling Italy’s interests. These include common security issues, maritime security and interconnected security between the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic spheres. We saw, for example, the positions of Japan and South Korea on Ukraine and Russia.
There is also a strong focus on economic security. Italy sees Asia, particularly India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, as crucial partners for de-risking. De-risking has become a real policy priority in Europe since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly in energy and supply chains.
Sanjay Pulipaka: How do you evaluate India-Italy relations in recent years, and which areas should be prioritized?
Emanuele Rossi: Economic security is the priority. This means protecting trade and industrial supply chains from excessive dependence on rivals, particularly China. China dominates many supply and value chains, including critical technologies.
The key areas to protect are trade and industrial chains. These are the foundations of economic security.
Sanjay Pulipaka: You mentioned this being the era of corridors. How do you see the evolution of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)?
Emanuele Rossi: IMEC is a great opportunity, but it currently faces challenges. The biggest issue is the lack of Saudi-Israel normalisation. IMEC is effectively split into two parts: the eastern segment between India and the Gulf, which is already operational, and the Mediterranean-European segment, which is stalled due to political constraints in the Middle East.
Italy believes Trieste can serve as a European hub for IMEC. Trieste is well connected to Central, Northern and Eastern Europe and could link IMEC with initiatives like the Three Seas Initiative.
Beyond IMEC, Italy should also pursue direct India-Italy connectivity, such as a Trieste-Mumbai link. This would involve not only geopolitics but also port infrastructure and customs procedures to facilitate trade. IMEC remains on the table, and Italy is actively promoting its role within the project.
Sanjay Pulipaka: Are there specific sectors you see as priorities for an India-Italy corridor?
Emanuele Rossi: Rather than one specific sector, there are many: machinery, advanced technologies, agri-food and more. Italy can become a gateway for Indian trade, commerce and strategic interests in Europe, especially as the EU-India FTA progresses.
Sanjay Pulipaka: Given instability in the Middle East, particularly Iran, how do you see developments there?
Emanuele Rossi: It is very difficult to predict. The regime maintains deep control, but recently we have seen movements even within elite circles. Trump is unlikely to intervene directly, given domestic constraints.
This is a very particular and sensitive moment for Iran. Something significant could happen, but at present, it is hard to foresee the direction or outcome.
Sanjay Pulipaka: Turning to the Arctic and Greenland, how will new shipping routes affect Mediterranean economies?
Emanuele Rossi: While climate change is opening Arctic routes, I do not believe they will replace routes like Suez or IMEC in the near future, especially for Asian countries such as India, Japan, or South Korea.
From a geopolitical perspective, the Arctic will likely be dominated by Russia and partly by China. It is not a low-risk route for Europe or Asian democracies.
Sanjay Pulipaka: You mentioned China’s dominance in supply chains. How do you view initiatives like the “Pax Silica”?
Emanuele Rossi: Pax Silica is fundamentally about economic security. In an era dominated by artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, controlling the entire chip value chain from mining to final production is critical.
From a U.S. perspective, creating a closed, trusted ecosystem among allies is essential for cutting-edge technology. Pax Silica is the instrument to build this secure ring system.
Sanjay Pulipaka: You recently visited India. What were your impressions?
Emanuele Rossi: The visit was extremely helpful. I grasped the real dimension of India’s ambitions and its vision of international relations. I saw a country undergoing strong and continuous development.
By engaging with scholars, analysts, diplomats and colleagues, I understood India’s multipolar and multi-alignment worldview. This perspective is not always easy for Europeans to grasp, but it is crucial for us to understand.
Sanjay Pulipaka: What more should be done to tell India’s story?
Emanuele Rossi: The issue is not only telling India’s story, but also overcoming Western bias in Europe. Europeans often view the world through a Western lens. We need to cultivate multiple perspectives: Indian, Gulf, African, Chinese, and broaden our worldview.
Sanjay Pulipaka: Thank you, Emmanuel, for this insightful discussion. We look forward to continuing this conversation and engaging with you on future European and Italian foreign policy developments.
Emanuele Rossi: Thank you, Sanjay.
Lakshmi Gayathry, an intern with Politeia Research Foundation, assisted with the transcription of the interview above.
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