The recent eruption of conflict in the Middle East further complicates a fragmented world scenario devoid of the bi-polar security of the past and of actors authoritative enough to manage the increasingly complex situation. The Mediterranean basin, ever an international political fulcrum, has returned to the center of current events where military tensions intersect with the effects of the recent energy crisis and mass migration flows.
Multiple crises are influencing relations between the northern shores and the countries of the southern shores which seem less capable than other emerging economic areas to attract quality investments and generate development. The attack by Hamas on Israel, moreover, is proof of deep political upheaval that involves not only the countries of North Africa and the Middle East; the effects generated by political and governmental systems increasingly dominated by radically opposed forces are weakening the connective tissue that fosters the ability to seek common solutions. The phenomenon is one that has surfaced even in the United States and is increasingly evident in Europe.
The Mediterranean has always been a crossroads, a place of encounter for peoples, social models and international relations. Current geopolitical, historical, security and economic considerations bring sharply to the fore its strategic role as bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa.
Although it accounts for a mere 1.1% of the planet’s total water surface, the Mediterranean supports a full 15% of maritime traffic and 20% of its value, in addition to 30-35% of strategic gas and oil routes for the supply up to 65% of Europe’s energy supplies and telecommunications networks.
In light of its ties to other regions of the world, we could speak of a “greater” Mediterranean, a concept that on the one hand emphasizes its global dimension and on the other makes it more susceptible to the tensions that might flare in other areas with which it is closely interlinked.
In a fragmented world in search of stability, crises can rapidly mushroom from local to international scale and vice versa. The greater Mediterranean is therefore capable of both importing and exporting factors in equilibrium – to which what is happening in Israel and Gaza bears tragic witness –, which makes necessary a strategy for confronting political threats with a view to averting degeneration into crisis.
Multilateral relations keyed to economic development, progress and the prosperity of all Mediterranean communities can be a potent antidote to phenomena of historic proportions such as migrations, climate change, ethnic and religious wars and struggles for the control of natural resources.
There are various approaches by which to confront shared development policies and strategies in a spirit of mutual trust; this begins with greater economic cooperation, which would certainly encourage relations and diminish conflict. Integrating the Mediterranean economies into global value chains, by developing “friend shoring” opportunities for example, could increase investment appeal and growth opportunities, thus staving off those recessions and high inflation rates that end up triggering food insecurity.
Companies must be encouraged to collaborate on system development projects and methods by which to foster cooperation, with a view to promoting growth along the southern shores while at the same time opening new markets and partnership possibilities for Italian and European firms. Fundamental, moreover, is the generation of added value, employment infrastructure and supply sources in countries with which collaboration is ongoing. Italy has a key role to play in this area, thanks both to geographic proximity as well as to the operational approach of Italian companies, which are known for their ability to create positive local level “dual-flag” partnerships.
Strategic also is the possibility for cooperation on applying innovative technologies to the green transition, an important challenge in confronting the effects of climate change in the Mediterranean region, in addition to creating development. This would make it possible to enhance climate security, thereby mitigating global warming’s amplifying effect on conflicts and improving international relations.
Another strategic objective is to upgrade training and productivity, with a view to reducing both unemployment and gender inequality. The university and the entire training system (including ITSs and school systems) are fundamental to promoting a cultural diplomacy in which Italy can play a prominent role.
Major capacity building projects already unite the two shores of the Mediterranean, but it is essential to improve and extend training opportunities for both students and educators.
A “University of the Mediterranean”, made up of universities of equal standing in terms of disciplines such as medicine and health (human and animal), engineering, agriculture, tourism and so forth, could be a factor in fostering shared economic and cultural growth with a view toward exchange as opposed to “brain drain”.
The application of technology to distance learning methods, with exams taken on the premises of diplomatic missions, could further facilitate programs of this type.
It is increasingly obvious that continental Europe is beginning to identify as Mediterranean Europe; and Italy, thanks to strategic location and potential to generate development, with positive fallout in particular on our southern regions, has a chance to expand its economic, logistical, diplomatic and cultural platform, taking into account not least the government’s agenda for the upcoming G7 presidency.
In past years, Europe and the West in general were often guilty of an excess of action; instead, it is now necessary to compensate an excess of inaction, bringing courage and vision to shifting the priority from a mere liberal/free trade focus to a more complex development/security/fair trade balance suited to the current global scenario.
Needed is a connecting fabric capable of mitigating extreme approaches and the void of strategic global vision that leaves room for local potentates with aggressive hegemonic designs. From this standpoint, Mediterranean neighborhood policies are going to be increasingly strategic to navigating the major ongoing transformations and ensuring against their potential destabilizing effects across the entire region.