Italy–Malta relations

Italy–Malta relations

Italy	Malta

Italy–Malta relations are foreign relations between Italy and Malta. Both countries established official diplomatic relations soon after Malta's independence. Italy has an embassy in Valletta. Malta has an embassy in Rome and 18 honorary consulates (in Bari, Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Catania, Genova, Livorno, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Reggio Calabria, Savona, Siracusa, Torino, Trieste, and Venice). Both countries are members of the European Union and of the Union for the Mediterranean.

History

Malta and the Italian peninsula have a long history of relations given their close proximity. Malta was part of the Normans' Kingdom of Sicily and remained associated with the Italian kingdom until 1194.^[1] The successor Kingdom of the Two Sicilies would be involved in the war against Napoleon Bonaparte's occupation of the island. However, Malta became a British dominion and thus moved outside the Italian sphere, although the presence of Italian culture and language remained strong. Indeed Italian designs on the island were highlighted in April 1933, when on a visit to the island, Italian cabinet undersecretary Francesco Giunta stated that he was on Italian soil and that the future of the island lay in complete union with Italy.^[2] The two countries clashed during World War II when Italy bombed the island during the Siege of Malta.

In 1980, Malta entered into a neutrality agreement with Italy, under which Malta agreed not to enter into any alliance and Italy agreed to guarantee Malta's neutrality.^[3] Malta's relations with Italy have been described as "generally excellent".^[4]

See also

• Foreign relations of Italy
• Foreign relations of Malta

References

1. ^ Castillo, Dennis Angelo. The Maltese Cross: A Strategic History of Malta. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313323291. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=i5ns5LNtoiUC&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25&dq=MALTA+sEMPRONIUS&source=web&ots=JHcfabryVa&sig=cXCtKu3apl5Y2y7OEhaMvt1CMM0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA25,M1. 
2. ^ Manfred Pfister & Ralf Hertel, Performing National Identity , 2008, pp. 173-4
3. ^ Woodliffe, John (1992). The Peacetime Use of Foreign Military Installations Under Modern International Law. Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff. pp. 99–100. ISBN 079231879X. http://books.google.com/books?id=JVW8d2NiXSYC&pg=PA99&dq=italy+malta+neutrality. Retrieved 2009-04-11. 
4. ^ David Attard & Dominic Fenech, "The Law of the Sea and Jurisdictional Issues in the Mediterranean." In Naval Policy and Strategy in the Mediterranean: Past, Present and Future. Edited by John B. Hattendorf. London: Frank Cass, 2000. P. 362. ISBN 0714680540. Accessed 2009-04-11.

External links

• Italian embassy in Valletta
• Directions of the Maltese representation in Italy