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Italian Diplomacy in the NATO Enlargement Process

Whilst attention has been focused on Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic as the latest members of NATO, Rome has been pushing behind the scenes for its favoured candidates for membership, Slovenia and Romania. As a consequence of its geographical location, Italy has a primary interest in the stabilization of the Balkan region and in its gradual integration with the rest of Europe. This interest has shaped its position in the debate on NATO expansion, leading Rome to advocate an enlargement of the Alliance directed not only towards central and eastern Europe but also to the south-east of the continent in the belief that this would contribute to restoring security in the Balkans, with beneficial implications for the whole continent.