Fabrizio Lucentini, Italian ambassador to Argentina: “There is a new harmony between the two countries”

DEF interviewed the Italian ambassador to Argentina, Fabrizio Lucentini, who highlighted the good moment of bilateral relations. (Photo: Fernando Calzada)

“The Italian community in Argentina is the largest outside Italy’s borders,” said Ambassador Fabrizio Lucentini, who is in the third year of his diplomatic mission in the country, speaking to DEF. There are currently 1.2 million Italian citizens registered in Argentina, of which more than 400,000 reside in the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Buenos Aires. Italian is, on the other hand, the second most studied language by Argentines, second only to English.

While acknowledging the enormous contribution of Italian immigrants to the country, Lucentini noted that “reducing the links between Italy and Argentina to the great history of immigration would be somewhat simplistic.” He was enthusiastic about an increase in trade between the two countries, industrial collaborations and an increase in Italian exports to Argentina, following the path of liberalisation initiated by the government of Javier Milei.

At the political level, there is a common ground on foreign policy issues, as was seen with President Milei’s participation in the G7 Summit in Italy, to which he was specially invited by Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. It was, in fact, his second meeting with the President of the Italian Council of Ministers, since, in February, Milei had been received by her in Rome, on the occasion of his trip to the occasion of the canonization of Mama Antula in the Vatican.

Javier Milei participated, invited by Georgia Meloni, in the G7 summit in Italy. (Photo: AFP)

-How is the bilateral relationship today?

– Economic ties are deep. The presence of Italian companies in Argentina is very important and numerous. Historically, Italy is one of the most important foreign investors. Argentina has enormous potential, which it is developing and I hope it will continue to do so, in the field of energy sustainability. In this area, relations between the two countries can be deepened. There is an objective fact: with the change of government in Argentina, there is a new harmony in foreign policy issues. Evidence of this is the reactivation of Argentina’s request for membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which Italy supports. The participation of the Argentine president in the G7 Summit is the certification of this link. Argentina can play a fundamental role in the multilateral arena. I am convinced that this is only a first step towards a reconnection of Argentina with the international community.

-Argentina has also submitted its application to become a “global partner” of NATO. What role can Italy, a founding member of the Atlantic Alliance, play in the process?

-In the past, Argentina has participated in international missions and has proven to be a reliable and serious interlocutor for crisis management. The decision to join NATO as a “global partner” is a further step in this direction. The defence ministers of the two countries, Luis Petri and Guido Crosetto, have spoken of the role that Italy can play, not only by supporting this request, but also by supporting it with possible training courses, joint participation in international missions and in other areas of military cooperation.

Lucentini said that “reducing the links between Italy and Argentina to the great history of immigration would be somewhat simplistic.” (Photo: Fernando Calzada)

-The volume of bilateral trade has declined in recent years. What opportunities are being opened up by the new Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI)?

-Historically, trade between Italy and Argentina has been around 2,000 or 2,500 million Euros, a figure that corresponds to the size of the Argentine market. There is room for improvement because we must recognize that, in recent years, there have been significant restrictions on imports. The path of liberalization, initiated by the current Argentine government, will surely lead to an increase in trade between the two countries and, therefore, to an increase in Italian exports to Argentina.

-How can Italy contribute to harnessing Argentina’s economic growth potential?

-Argentina has enormous potential in terms of agricultural production and in the area of ​​energy transition and renewable energies. For example, in the production of lithium and rare earths. In this sector, the country can attract investments. Argentina could not only be a raw materials exporter, but also put this enormous amount of resources it has to good use. To do this, it needs investments and technological support. In this context, Italy, which is the second European manufacturing power, can help through industrial collaborations. There are mutual interests. I am convinced that if Argentina finally takes a coherent and clear path in its economic policy, investments will increase significantly.

Following the recent change of government, Argentina is pushing for NATO membership. (Photo: DEF archive)

-In the field of scientific cooperation, one example worth highlighting is the Italian-Argentine Satellite System for Emergency Management (SIASGE). What could you tell us about this?

-It is a very important experience. In 2022, the Italian Space Agency and the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) of Argentina signed a new agreement, which provides for the commercial use of images captured by satellites. It also provides for the replacement of current satellites with new, more sophisticated satellites. Italy has already launched two new satellites from the Cosmo SkyMed family, which are part of this constellation.

“Trade between Italy and Argentina is around 2,000 or 2,500 million euros,” the ambassador told DEF. (Photo: Fernando Calzada)

-What is the importance of university exchanges? We have the example of the University of Bologna, which has a local branch in Argentina.

-It is essential to facilitate mobility at an academic level, involving both teachers and students. From this academic exchange, collaboration at a scientific level is born. In this context, one case worth highlighting is that of the University of Bologna, which in 2023 celebrated 25 years of presence in Argentina and paved the way for this type of experience.

Argentina and Italy have had countless scientific cooperation agreements over the years. (Photo: Fernando Calzada)

-Argentine citizens with Italian citizenship also participate in political institutions and elect their own representatives to the Italian Parliament. What contribution do they make to Italian politics?

-On the one hand, there are the Committees of Italians Abroad (Comites), which are the representative body of the community that interacts with the Consulates. And a completely different role is that of the senators and deputies elected abroad, who represent the 6 million Italians living outside the borders. Their contribution enriches the work of the Italian Parliament because it conveys a different sensitivity from that of the parliamentarians resident in Italy.

Luciani highlighted that, in 2022, the Italian Space Agency and the National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE) of Argentina signed a new agreement. (Photo: Fernando Calzada)

-What is the importance of the network of Italian associations in our country and, in this area, what is the role of the new generations?

-There is a widespread network of associations that has developed over the years and has been the core of the Italian presence in Argentina. To keep this network alive, in 2021 we launched the Diploma in Studies and Management in Institutions of the Italian Community in Argentina. It is an ambitious initiative that encourages participation, reflection, debate and the development of innovative solutions to strengthen these institutions. The diploma, which is in its fourth edition, has the collaboration of the Italian Consulates in Argentina, the Italian-Argentine Centre for Advanced Studies (CIAAE) and the Secretariat for International Relations of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).