Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini called for prudence on Tuesday when asked about Italy reaching an agreement over China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),a massive infrastructure project seeking to create a sort of Silk Road for the modern world.
“It’s a fundamentally important to open new markets to Italian firms and entrepreneurs,” Salvini said during a visit to Matera. “But it is necessary to protect the national interest and national security.
“So it is necessary to be very, very careful before putting vital infrastructure for Italy, I’m thinking data, networks, ports and airports, at the disposal of foreign investors”.
The US and the EU have voiced concern about Italy joining the BRI.