Rome, January 17, 2026 – The Europe Today: Italy’s right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on Friday unveiled a new commercial strategy for the Arctic region, reflecting its growing geopolitical and economic significance.
The strategy document was officially presented in Rome by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, and University and Research Minister Anna Maria Bernini. According to media reports, the initiative aims to strengthen security cooperation while opening new business opportunities for Italian companies in the Arctic.
The move comes amid heightened international attention on the polar north, as the region gains strategic importance in global affairs. The renewed focus follows recent efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to expand American influence in the Arctic, including proposals related to Greenland, a Danish territory.
In a statement, Prime Minister Meloni said Italy is “perfectly aware of how much this region of the world represents a strategic quadrant in global balances,” and reaffirmed Rome’s commitment to preserving the Arctic as “an area of peace, cooperation and prosperity.”
She added that the Arctic should “increasingly be a priority of the European Union and NATO,” urging the transatlantic alliance to develop a coordinated presence in the region to “prevent tensions, preserve stability and respond to interference from other actors.”
Foreign Minister Tajani announced plans to travel to Washington in the coming weeks to hold discussions on raw materials with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other partners. He also revealed that Italy would launch an “Italian business mission to the Arctic” to support national companies seeking opportunities in the region.
“Europe’s attention and Italy’s attention to the Arctic is not born today: we have always recognized its centrality,” Tajani said, noting that Rome is considering the creation of a business group focused on exports in sectors such as defense, energy, and space. “We want to support our companies and stand by them because the Arctic region is our priority,” he added.
University and Research Minister Bernini said Italy will host the Arctic Circle Rome Forum — Polar Dialogue in early March. The event is expected to bring together entrepreneurs, defense companies, scientists, researchers, and policymakers to discuss developments and cooperation in the Arctic.
Italy’s renewed emphasis on the Arctic comes as Denmark and several allied countries announced plans this week to reinforce their military presence in Greenland, amid escalating rhetoric from Washington over U.S. strategic interests in the Arctic region.
