Not only Moscow and Beijing: the European and U.S. support to Italy during the Coronavirus emergency
The emergency linked to the spread of the new coronavirus in Italy has transformed our country into a theater of international confrontation between different state actors determined to test their global repositioning strategies during and after the pandemic. In fact, in parallel with solidarity, the supply of medical aid and humanitarian support policies are an instrument of influence and soft power of absolute importance, functional to support the strategic objectives of States. Therefore, Russian help cannot be de-contextualized with respect to Moscow’s attempt to reopen a dialogue with the G7 countries, fully return to the club of the great global powers and obtain discounts and political capital to invest in the Ukrainian, Syrian and Libyan dossiers. In the same way, the Chinese support represents a natural appendix of the need to finalize the Belt and Road Initiative, which has one of the destination terminals in Italy, as well as the need to revive an international image partially stained by the accusations of initial censorship on the real extent of the infection from COVID -19 in Wuhan.
However, the same is true for other countries that are firmly part of the European and Atlantic family. On their side, the game of sending aid to Rome serves to counter Russian and Chinese ambitions and to try to keep the EU and NATO united in the most difficult moment in their history. Furthermore, we must not forget the fact that the Italian people have higher ambitions and expectations towards their European and Atlantic partners, precisely in light of their status.
The clamorous media noise of Chinese and Russian aids to deal with the coronavirus emergency in Italy has shadowed the quieter support provided by countries historically allied to Rome, heightening the growing Euro-skeptical and anti-Atlanticist sentiment among Italian citizens. In a time of crisis such as the present one, any kind of logistical and political support is welcome and the supplies of medical equipment received from Moscow and Beijing are a sign of friendship widely recognized and appreciated throughout the peninsula. However, the stir caused by the images of Russian and Chinese vehicles and personnel arriving on the national territory has overshadowed the initiatives of other EU and NATO countries in favor of Italy.
During these weeks of crisis, the United States, Italy’s historic ally, offered impressive support to Rome, mobilizing its Armed Forces, NGOs, teams of scientists and the private sector, despite the growing emergency at home. The Air Force has donated a mobile system that includes vital medical equipment and ten beds and guarantees support for 40 patients in 24 hours. The U.S. Army, on the other hand, supplied beds and wheelchairs to the Lombardy region. These supplies quickly arrived from oversea and were relocated to the more distressed areas thanks to the long-standing collaboration between the Italian and U.S. Armed Forces and the high level of interoperability developed also within NATO. In addition, the NGO Samaritan’s Purse has sent a field hospital with 68 beds, technical equipment and a staff of sixty volunteers to our country. This hospital is already operating in Cremona, one of the cities most affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. The U.S. private sector has also made its contribution to support Italy. Concerted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy, many U.S. symbolic companies have donated a total of $ 12.5 million in aid to our country. Furthermore, U.S. and Italian doctors started to closely collaborate to deepen their knowledge of the virus and experiment new treatments and vaccines. Moreover, in recent days, further initiatives in favor of Italy have been initiated by Washington and during a phone call between Donald Trump and Giuseppe Conte on March 30, the U.S. President confirmed his commitment to support Rome in the tough fight against COVID- 19. In detail, the tenant of the White House promised our Prime Minister to send pulmonary ventilators (whose production has been entrusted to General Motors), masks and other materials for a total of about 100 million dollars in medical supplies. The continuous and renewed U.S. support to Italy, therefore, confirms the stable and lasting friendship between the two countries.
Likewise, numerous European countries, despite the rapid spread of the infection within their borders, have demonstrated their closeness to Italy. Germany is hosting 8 Covid-19 positive Italian citizens in its hospitals in Saxony, and Bavaria has also made itself available to welcome our infected compatriots. This gesture of solidarity is certainly of great help at a time when healthcare facilities in northern Italy are in difficulty. In addition, Berlin has already sent 830,000 masks, 1,500 protective suits and a hundred pulmonary ventilators and other shipments of medical materials are expected in the next few days, including another million masks. Although there is a German decree that forbids sending abroad equipment useful to manage the pandemic at home, in the past days the government has suspended this provision to provide assistance to Italy.
France has lent its support to Italy as well with the supply of one million masks and 200,000 protective suits. Solidarity gestures also came from Austria, which sent 1.6 million masks and from the Czech Republic, which has delivered 110,000 masks and 10,000 protective suits to Italy.
Therefore, by taking a closer look it is possible to see that our traditional partners have not drawn back in times of need; indeed, within the limits of the widespread crisis, they have donated many materials useful for managing the emergency.
Italy is part of the EU, but also a founding member of the Atlantic Alliance, which, in these days of crisis, has adapted its structure to support those States in greatest difficulty. From a logistics point of view, NATO has made cargo aircrafts available, which it manages on behalf of the member States under the umbrella of a dedicated program, for the supply of medical equipment to countries whose Armed Forces do not have adequate air capabilities. NATO military aircrafts with medical supplies mainly from the Republic of Korea and China have landed in Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Furthermore, thanks to the NATO Disaster Response Coordination Center, it has been possible to forward requests for the supply of medical materials to all Member States from countries such as Spain, Montenegro and Italy and to manage the flights that delivered this equipment.
As regards the more exquisitely political role, during the next NATO meeting of Foreign Ministers, which will take place on April 2 via secure teleconference, a discussion is scheduled on the role and logistical assistance that the Alliance can provide to deal with the Covid-19 emergency. Indeed, the Atlantic Alliance’s table can be the ideal place to share experiences, exchange information and increase mutual support and research skills.
In the current crisis, it is imperative to accept the help that the International Community can offer to Italy. Welcoming Russian and Chinese help does not predict a hypothetical Italian abandonment of NATO and the EU, let alone re-discuss the Italian role within them. However, we cannot ignore the fact that the slowdowns of some EU States on the possibility of approving expansive measures and financial support to economically more fragile countries afflicted by the pandemic has generated discontent and tensions and, consequently, has reduced the media impact of the Euro-Atlantic logistics and medical support to Rome.
The activism of Russia and China should serve as a warning to Washington as well as to Brussels. The Atlantic Alliance and the EU are international organizations linked not only by a political-economic and military constraint, but also by a principle of solidarity that cements their foundations. Despite the differences that exist between the various Member States, both organizations can thrive and remain united only if all those who are part of them are adequately protected. The weakening of trust, economic performance or social stability in one of the partners risks afflicting the organizations as a whole, with unimaginable consequences. Moscow and Beijing are aware of this and their geopolitical game is also based on this awareness.
