An Overview of US-Italian Relations: The Legacy of the Past

At the end of World War II the United States became Italy’s indispensable ally, and throughout the Cold War, US-Italian relations remained consistently strong, even accounting for some inevitable ups and downs. In the post-Cold War era, the relationship has remained strong in spite of a number of dramatic changes in both the international system and Italian domestic politics. The rise of populist movements on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years, however, might challenge the centrality of the United States in Italy’s foreign policy.

Revised version of a paper presented at the 13th Transatlantic Security Symposium entitled “A Lasting Bond. Revisiting & Reinvigorating Italy-US Relations 160 Years since their Inception”, held in Rome on 13 December 2021 and organised by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.