Italy bets on cultural diplomacy in the Mediterranean

Rome: Italy is pushing a new model of engagement with the Global South, using culture, education and research as tools of influence. In Palermo, the Med-Or Foundation laid out a long-term vision that sees Italy as a “hinge” between Europe and the enlarged Mediterranean, with soft power at its core.

At the international conference “Palermo, crocevia del Mediterraneo”, attended by delegates from 29 countries, the Med-Or Foundation unveiled its roadmap to 2027 — culminating in the 1400th anniversary of the Arab arrival in Sicily.

The plan includes a new Virtual Academy, expanded African operations, and partnerships in the Gulf and Latin America.

“Without the South, a new world order cannot be built,” the Med-Or International Board declared.

“We are investing in education and skills to create local cooperation — from agriculture to cybersecurity.”

What they’re saying:

Marco Minniti, president of Med-Or, warned: “The West must not leave the South to China and Russia. Italy can help Europe avoid that mistake.”

University Minister Anna Maria Bernini called Italy “a hinge between Europe and the Mediterranean in research and innovation”, noting that Med-Or acts as a “special advisor” in the Mattei Plan.

Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said Med-Or inspired the cultural dimension of the Mattei Plan and praised its role in “cultural diplomacy across the wider Mediterranean”.

Zoom in: cooperation as a vector. Italy is blending academic cooperation and strategic outreach. Joint Degrees and capacity-building programs with African universities aim to train a new generation of professionals “speaking the same language”.

Med-Or is building an “ecosystem” of universities, research centres, businesses and territories.

Between the lines: The emphasis on Palermo is deliberate. It recalls Sicily’s historic role as a cultural crossroads — a narrative now repurposed for geopolitical relevance.

Yes, but… While the vision is ambitious, questions remain about scalability, funding, and Europe’s willingness to fully embrace a long-term soft power pivot.

The bottom line: In a time of war and fragmentation, Italy is crafting a diplomacy rooted in culture and connectivity. Palermo is the lab — the Mediterranean is the testing ground.