Latin America
The Latin American region comprises 23 States. It accounts for only 8.3% of the world population and for about 5% of the world’s GDP, but possesses a huge amount of natural resources. Italy is present in the region with its diplomatic-consular network, consisting of 18 Embassies and 15 Consulates.
Italy’s foreign policy attaches great importance to Latin America, due to the historical, social, cultural and political ties existing with the region, as well as the many Italian communities and companies present there. For these reasons, Italy has set up an international organisation (IILA) to promote relations with the region and every two years it organises a Conference to meet with all the governments of the countries in the area (see further details).
Development cooperation is an important tool in the Italian strategy towards the region, which is characterised by strong internal inequalities (exacerbated by the pandemic). The same holds true for our legal diplomacy programmes to combat transnational organised crime.
Besides strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation with regional bodies (OAS, CEPAL, MERCOSUR, SICA, etc.), the Foreign Ministry cooperates with countries in the area at the multilateral level (Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are members of the G20) in various fields, starting with the fight against climate change, also in the wider framework of relations with the European Union.
The following international events will take place in 2022:
– EU-Latin America and Caribbean Informal Summit (date and venue to be defined);
– 9th Summit of the Americas – Los Angeles, California (USA) – June 2022.
Italy’s role in the Caribbean
The English-speaking Caribbean region comprises 10 island states, with a population of around 6 million people. Italy is present in the region with secondary accreditations (of Embassies in Panama and Washington) and a network of Honorary Consulates.
Italy favours relations with the two regional organisations, namelythe Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), with which two wide-ranging cooperation memorandums are in force, focusing, inter alia, on the environment, sustainable development and the fight against organised crime. Moreover, the Foreign Ministry has established the figure of the Special Envoy for the Caribbean Countries, who periodically visits the region.
A Memorandum on Sustainable Development with the CARICOM countries, financed by the Ministry for Ecological Transition, is also currently being renewed. In parallel, negotiations are being finalised for a EUR 50 million credit line, funded by the Foreign Ministry, to strengthen the resilience of eight CARICOM countries to climate change and natural disasters.
The 10th Italy-Latin America and Caribbean Conference in 2021 was attended by many Caribbean Ministers and Deputy Foreign Ministers, thus confirming the willingness to structure a political dialogue focused on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Main international events concerning the Caribbean region:
– CARICOM Summit, July 4-5, 2022, venue to be defined.