Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, published an opinion piece in FSP, on Sunday the 5th, extolling the historical role of Italians in the development of Latin America. However, the lack of any mention of their descendants generated discomfort in the Italian-Brazilian community.
In the text, entitled “Italy, Latin America and the Caribbean: together for growth”, Tajani states that “it is difficult to imagine Latin America without Italy,” highlighting the contribution of millions of immigrants since the 19th century. “With their achievements, culture and values, Italians have contributed to the solid progress of the continent,” he wrote.
Despite the complimentary tone, the content generated criticism for omitting a sensitive point: the obstacles imposed by the Italian government to the recognition of citizenship for descendants.
Criticism from the Italian-Brazilian community
Reader Sandra, of Italian descent, wrote to the editorial staff of Italianism questioning the chancellor's stance: "It's very cheeky. He insists on imagining Italy without us, people of Italian descent," he vented.
In recent months, the Italian government has made the process of recognizing citizenship by blood right more difficult (jure sanguinis), especially in Latin American countries, where millions of people of Italian descent live. More than that, he even stated that Italian-Brazilians pose a threat to Italy.
Bilateral relations in the spotlight
Tajani published the article on the eve of the 12th Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Conference, held in Roma, on October 6th and 7th. The event brought together foreign ministers from the region to discuss economic and diplomatic cooperation.
According to the minister, more than 3.000 Italian companies operate in Latin America, employing around 20 people. Trade in Latin America in 2024 exceeded 33 billion euros.
The diaspora's omission—especially in Brazil, the country with the largest number of Italian descendants in the world—was seen as a political signal. Tajani was expected to take advantage of the opportunity to publicly acknowledge this historical link.
Next, read the article published in FSP and reproduced by vehicles such as La Nación, El País and other international newspapers.
Italy, Latin America and the Caribbean: together for growth
The history of Latin America is intertwined with that of Italy. Millions of Italians, carrying with them a heritage of hope, courage, and ingenuity, set out from the first half of the 19th century to cross the ocean to offer their families a new life overseas. Today, almost 200 years after the beginning of this heroic epic, it is difficult to imagine Latin America without Italy.
Since the beginnings of the European presence in the New World, Italians, with their achievements, culture and values, have contributed to the solid progress of the Latin American continent, always in dialogue and sharing with the communities in which they were integrated.
Building on this extraordinary legacy and supported by one of the most extensive diplomatic and consular networks in the world, Italy continues to foster partnerships for mutual growth, also strengthening new ties of cooperation in Latin America with a region to which the Italian government is devoting increasing attention.
This Monday and Tuesday (October 6th and 7th) it will take place in Roma the 12th Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Conference, a biennial meeting of fundamental importance, to which I invited the foreign ministers of all Latin American countries.
This year, the meeting has the significant title “Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean: A Growing Partnership”, with the dual objective of reaffirming the solidity of our ties, intensified with great commitment in recent years, and of planning the future together.
With trade with Italy expected to exceed €33 billion in 2024, Latin America is home to more than 3.000 Italian companies, employing approximately 20 people in a wide range of economic sectors: energy, wholesale trade, transportation, agri-food, and infrastructure. The total revenue of our production system in Latin America exceeds €70 billion.
Our diplomatic and consular network in this vast region comprises 33 embassies and consulates, supported by the long-standing presence of major Italian companies. This system has proven to be a powerful driver of growth diplomacy, a central theme of our diplomatic activity and this year's conference.
Thanks to government action, Italy has strengthened its ties with Latin America, as evidenced by the development of new growth partnerships with regional giants like Brazil, which I visited last year to explore, also through a series of business forums, the best opportunities for collaboration. In this spirit, we have included Latin America in the new plan to foster Italian exports in high-potential countries outside the European Union.
Sustainability, private sector dynamism, and a modern and transparent regulatory framework are essential ingredients for vibrant economies capable of achieving lasting growth for the benefit of their populations.
These advances, however, are threatened by crime, insecurity, and corruption. Therefore, we support the fight against these risks through multiple bilateral and multilateral initiatives, including within the European Union.
But there is above all one dimension of our relations that cannot be underestimated and that gains increasing relevance in the current international situation: the common belonging to a system of values that continues to accompany us, and which, in the past, led to defining the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean as "the Far West."
A solid foundation for us to defend together what we hold most dear: democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, justice, the rule of law, and multilateralism.
I am certain that the 12th Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Conference, which precedes by a few weeks the EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the European Union) Summit in Colombia in November, will be an important occasion to affirm the unanimous voice of a cohesive community determined to defend the values of peace, development and democracy.
Antonio Tajani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.
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