FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Italy was a founding member of the European Community--now the European Union (EU). Italy was admitted to the United Nations in 1955 and is a member and strong supporter of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization (GATT/WTO), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Council of Europe. It chaired the CSCE (the forerunner of the OSCE) in 1994, the EU in 1996, and the G-8 in 2001 and served as EU president from July to December 2003. Italy began serving a two-year term on the UN Security Council in January 2007.
Italy firmly supports the United Nations and its international security activities. Italy actively participated in and deployed troops in support of UN peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Mozambique, and East Timor and provides critical support for NATO and UN operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Albania. Italy deployed 1,000 Alpini troops to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in February 2003 and maintains approximately 2,000 troops and a Provincial Reconstruction Team in the western Afghanistan province of Herat. In December 2006, Italy completed the deployment of some 3,000 troops who supported international efforts to stabilize Iraq and continues to support reconstruction and development assistance of the Iraqi people through humanitarian workers and other officials.
The Italian
Government seeks to obtain consensus with other European countries
on various defense and security issues within the EU as well as
NATO. European integration and the development of common defense
and security policies will continue to be of primary interest
to Italy.
U.S.-ITALY
RELATIONS
The United States enjoys warm and friendly relations with Italy. Italy is a leading partner in the war against terrorism. The two are NATO allies and cooperate in the United Nations, in various regional organizations, and bilaterally for peace, prosperity, and security. Italy has worked closely with the United States and others on such issues as NATO and UN operations as well as with assistance to Russia and the New Independent States; the Middle East peace process; multilateral talks; Somalia and Mozambique peacekeeping; and combating drug trafficking, trafficking in women and children, and terrorism.
Under
longstanding bilateral agreements flowing from NATO membership,
Italy hosts important U.S. military forces at Vicenza and Livorno
(army); Aviano (air force); and Sigonella, Gaeta, and Naples--home
port for the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet. The United States has about
16,000 military personnel stationed in Italy. Italy hosts the
NATO War College in Rome.
Italy
remains a strong and active transatlantic partner which, along
with the United States, has sought to foster democratic ideals
and international cooperation in areas of strife and civil conflict.
Toward this end, the Italian Government has cooperated with the
United States in the formulation of defense, security, and peacekeeping
policies.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Ronald P. Spogli
Deputy Chief of Mission--Anna Borg
Economic Affairs--Tom Delare
Political Affairs--David Pearce
Consular Affairs--Barbara Cummings
The U.S. Embassy in Italy is located at Via Veneto 119, Rome (tel. (39)(06) 46741.
