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ITALY'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The United States of America
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Italy entered into relations with the United States of America on 11 April 1861, when the US formally recognised the Kingdom of Italy.[1]
The Allied Invasion of Italy and the subsequent Italian Civil War during World War II essentially began the process for Italy to become a republic. When Italy became a republic in 1946, the US began engaging with Italy far more than any point previous to 1946. For more information regarding the 1945-1946 process from Italy becoming a monarchy to a republic, see here
US relations with the Italian Republic evolved as the political climate in Europe was drawn by the emergence of two different Europes, that being the Soviet Union's Eastern Bloc and the United States' Western Bloc. Consequently, the US remained adamant on maintaining influence in Italy, and the resulting Marshall Plan was key to maintaining said influence.
Italy benefited from the US' economic investment in Europe, and the Italian decision to join NATO in 1949 marked the Marshall Plan a successful diplomatic endeavour on the part of the US.
The US sponsored the NATO stay behind operation known as "Operation Gladio", of which its official goal was focused on creating an underground resistance movement in the peninsula should any potential future Soviet occupation of Italy occur. [2]
As part of this operation, the US and/or NATO was allegedly involved in the kidnapping and murder of Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro, and the 1980 Bologna Bombing. [3] [a]
US-Italy relations during the Italian Republic reached a historical low during the 1985 Sigonella Crisis, which saw Italian Prime Minister Bettino Craxi block US troops from ------.
Italy supported the US effort in the War on Terror, including the Afghanistan War
Since the beginning of the 2026 Iran War, US-Italy relations have soured for the first time since the Sigonella Crisis. This souring of relations was part of a greater diplomatic row between the US and the Vatican, but also contained Italian concern of its own involvement in supplying the US effort in the Iran War.[4]
[a] US involvement in the Years of Lead is debated in modern academia and is contemporarily labelled as elements of conspiracy theories surrounding the Italian Republic, said claims are only listed on this page considering the high profile confessions that the US did indeed take part in the events at some point. For more information on Moro's death and the Years of Lead in general, see here and here.
[1] Department of State. Office of the Historian.
[2] Tamir Sinai. Eyes on target: 'Stay-behind' forces during the Cold War. 2021.
[3] Attributed to multiple sources.
[4] Al Jazeera. Italy-US ties strained as pope and Iran war dominate talks. 8 May 2026.