Italy – US: Dependable, but not indispensable?

The palpable insecurity about Italy’s status in American foreign policy calculations, despite Italy’s status as a member of the G-8, its historically critical role in shaping the trajectory of European integration and not insignificant contributions to military operations in Afghanistan and Libya, has been heightened with the reelection of President Barack Obama and the uncertain outcome of the Italian parliamentary elections at the end of February.

The United States has declared itself to be the indispensible nation in the international system, but it remains open whether it remains a dependable partner, particularly on those issues most likely to affect directly Italian interests in the Mediterranean. Any European-led, out-of-area military operation requires American enabling capabilities for the successful projection of power, but the American supply of those capabilities for European purposes is now hedged by a variety of developments, most notably the Asian pivot of the current administration, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel’s skepticism about the use of force, domestic fatigue with seemingly pointless wars without end, and the institutional paralysis in the American Congress that will complicate any foreign (or domestic) policy initiative emanating from the White House.

ISPI: Commentary: Italy - US: Dependable, but not indispensable? [PDF] http://www.ispionline.it/sites/default/files/pubblicazioni/commentary_sperling_21.02.2013_0.pdf

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