Yesterday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Azerbaijan. A one-on-one meeting was held between the Prime Minister and President Ilham Aliyev. After this, the leaders made a joint statement to the press.
Modern.az website addressed a number of questions to Carlo Marino, director and founder of "EurasiaticaNews" website, at a time when Italy-Azerbaijan relations are becoming more active.
We present our mini-interview with the Italian journalist:
-Mr. Carlo, first of all, I would like to know, how many Azerbaijanis currently live and study in Italy?
-According to official statistics as of January 1, 2023, 1,025 Azerbaijani citizens were registered in Italy.
-In which fields do Azerbaijani citizens mainly work, and which specialties do students prefer?
-A significant part of Azerbaijanis living in Italy are students. Every year, several hundred Azerbaijani students are admitted to Italian universities and mainly study with scholarship and grant programs.
The indicators by gender are almost equal: 519 men and 506 women. The number of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Italy has shown a continuous increase in recent years. For comparison, in 2006 there were only 211 official registrations. These citizens are mainly concentrated in large university cities and economic centers of Central and Northern Italy.
-Yesterday, your country's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Azerbaijan. How is Meloni's visit to Azerbaijan interpreted in Italy?
-Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to Azerbaijan was positively covered in the Italian media.
-Can this visit be considered the beginning of a new stage in Italy-Azerbaijan relations?
-Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to Azerbaijan is considered another important contribution to the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Italy. Italy and Azerbaijan are strategic partner countries. The last time an Italian Prime Minister visited Azerbaijan was 13 years ago. The visit of the Italian Prime Minister to Baku after 13 years once again demonstrates the depth of relations.
-How does Italy evaluate Azerbaijan's role as a strategic energy partner?
-Energy and connectivity (transport-logistics) are key areas where Italy and the European Union can play a more active role. This includes supporting investments and promoting greater integration of Azerbaijan's energy networks, as well as international transport corridors.
-What are the main messages and results expected from the meeting between Giorgia Meloni and President Ilham Aliyev?
-Meloni touched upon the issue of relations with Armenia, reaffirming Italy's support for the full normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This process, especially thanks to the impetus given by the US, is considered a historical turning point. 2026 could be a decisive year in terms of fully unlocking the potential of a dynamic region like the South Caucasus.
-From the perspective of European politics, what message does this visit send about the EU's approach to the South Caucasus region?
-Italy supports Azerbaijan's strengthening role as an important transit and connecting hub between Europe and Asia, as well as Italy becoming the main gateway country for access to the European market. This vision requires long-term investments, strategic planning, and deepening industrial cooperation. Italy and Azerbaijan plan to hold a Business Forum in Baku in the second half of 2026, which aims to translate political cooperation into real economic results.
-What new opportunities can Giorgia Meloni's visit to Baku create for the future development of Rome-Baku cooperation?
-Giorgia Meloni's visit to Baku on May 4, 2026, is considered a "new strategic stage" in Italy-Azerbaijan relations. This stage represents a transition from the traditional "buyer-seller" model to a more deeply integrated economic and political partnership. Here, one can talk about energy security and the concept of an "European energy hub". Expansion of the TAP gas pipeline: its annual transmission capacity is planned to reach 20 billion cubic meters by 2027. This will not only strengthen Italy's energy supply but also create conditions for it to increase its export opportunities to countries like Germany and Austria. Three Memoranda of Understanding have been signed between ENI and SOCAR in the fields of methane emission reduction, biofuel production, and energy security. Economic and industrial diversification can also be discussed. A large-scale Italy-Azerbaijan Business Forum is planned to be held in the second half of 2026. The participation of Italian companies such as Leonardo and Snam in Azerbaijan's infrastructure, technology, and Karabakh region restoration projects is envisaged. At the same time, cooperation in mine clearance is also expanding. These initiatives are aligned with Italy's cooperation model with third countries within the framework of the "Mattei Plan".
The issue of education and human capital needs to be addressed separately. Thus, the project of establishing an Italy-Azerbaijan University in Baku is being implemented. The project is being carried out with the support of five leading Italian higher education institutions, including Sapienza University and Turin Polytechnic University. The main goal is to train local specialists in engineering, architecture, and design. Defense and diplomatic cooperation is also a very important issue. After the supply of C-27J Spartan aircraft produced by Leonardo, military-technical cooperation is planned to be strengthened. Italy supports the peace process in the region and promotes the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. This is considered important for long-term stability and secure trade routes. By the way, the issue of COP29 and regional diplomacy cannot be overlooked. Giorgia Meloni's visit is of great importance in terms of confirming the strategic partnership between the two countries and expanding future cooperation.
