‘Wicked Scheme’: Italian Defence Minister Laments Nation Joining Xi’s BRI Project

News Snapshot:

Guido Crosetto, the Italian defence minister, decried Italy’s decision to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on Sunday. Italy signed up for the BRI in 2019 during the tenure of former prime minister Giuseppe Conte. Guido Crosetto, speaking to Italian news media outlet Corriere della Sera, said the decision to join the BRI was ‘wicked’ and it has failed to help the country’s exports. The global infrastructure programme kicked-off by Xi Jinping in 2013 is an infrastructure investment program established to rebuild China’s Silk Road and reconnect Asia with Africa and Europe while increasing trade and economic growth. However,...