{"id":402326,"date":"2019-04-01T23:03:45","date_gmt":"2019-04-01T22:03:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/italy-looks-to-china-consortiumnews\/"},"modified":"2019-04-01T23:03:45","modified_gmt":"2019-04-01T22:03:45","slug":"italy-looks-to-china-consortiumnews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/italy-looks-to-china-consortiumnews\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy Looks to China \u2013 Consortiumnews"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The U.S. and EU may worry about Rome joining the New Silk Road, but it\u2019s their fault, writes Andrew Spannaus.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Andrew Spannaus<\/a><\/span>
<\/strong>in Milan
<\/strong>Special to Consortium News<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

As the first G-7 country to accept a formal agreement to participate in the initiative, also known as the New Silk Road, Italy found itself under instant pressure from both the United States and its allies in Europe, all of which worried that it represented an expansion of China\u2019s economic foothold in the West.<\/span><\/p>\n

The populist government led by the Five-Star Movement and the League was caught off guard by the rapid backlash, which began with a pointed tweet from the U.S. National Security Council on March 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Italy is a major global economy and a great investment destination. Endorsing BRI lends legitimacy to China\u2019s predatory approach to investment and will bring no benefits to the Italian people.<\/p>\n

\u2014 NSC (@WHNSC) March 9, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Garrett Marquis, confidant of U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton and former Security Council spokesman, followed up with a threat to stop intelligence-sharing<\/a> <\/span>between the two countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to the Chinese leader\u2019s arrival, Giancarlo Giorgetti, the secretary of the Council of Ministers, a post equivalent to chief of staff in the U.S., confirmed the signing of the memorandum to exploit new economic opportunities, but said important restrictions would be placed on cooperation with China, and that it was \u201cridiculous to speak of detachment from the United States.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Garrett