How is the future of European security approached by Italy? We focus on Rome’s efforts to reconcile its strong commitment to transatlantic ties with its support for further European integration. Italy’s concerns about the deteriorating security environment around Europe are discussed, including Russia’s growing involvement in conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa.

While Italy is one of Europe’s larger security and defence actors, with a historical focus on the Mediterranean region and North Africa, in public the country’s approach to European security has been relatively muted compared with other leading European states. Nevertheless, Rome is deeply involved in debates on the future of European security. In this episode, Karolina Muti, a researcher at the Institute for International Affairs in Rome, and Dario Cristiani, Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund and the Institute for International Affairs based in Washington, DC, discuss Italy’s defence and security concerns and its agenda for European security with Dr Neil Melvin, Director RUSI International Security Studies.