The role of Italy in the Red Sea. Between diplomacy and security

Under the guise of the «friendship diplomacy», Italian politicians and diplomats were dedicated to reestablishing Italy’s reputation in the Middle East after World War II (Pizzigallo M., 2008). Today, following the rekindling of hostilities in the Middle East, the Italian Parliament voted to authorise Italian participation in a European military mission to ensure the security of maritime trade routes in the Red Sea. The research aims to provide a brief historical overview of Italy’s role in the Middle Eastern context and to reflect on the prospects for transforming the image and role of Italian foreign policy in the geopolitics of the enlarged Mediterranean.