Energy Security: Exploring Opportunities for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and Italian/EU/NATO Efforts to Foster Collaboration with Africa

This research demonstrates the strategic importance of the port of Trieste located in northern Italy, overlooking the Adriatic Sea to energy security, trade, global infrastructure investments, and international collaborations. This port has become an important maritime gateway of Central and Eastern Europe and it can serve to connect India in Asia, and the Middle East. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), connects India, the Middle East, and Europe, in Northern-Eastern Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni envisions Trieste as a strategic hub to advance Italy’s interests across the Mediterranean and Europe, aligning with the Mattei Plan for Africa and potential ties with the Three Seas Initiative. The Mattei plan has a strategic goal is to make Italy an energy hub, a real bridge between Europe and Africa. Italy can distribute energy to other European nations. Italy has made strategic partnerships with North African countries like Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria to enhance energy security. The Italian government has given the green light to allocate funds for a feasibility study on the “Green Corridor,” a project aimed at streamlining the transportation of green hydrogen from Morocco to the port of Trieste. The US and the EU plan to develop corridors and electrification financing with Africa and vital transport links in Africa which will boost trade and economic development in the region such as with the Lobito Corridor.