Behind the Lobito Corridor: the Future of Infrastructure Diplomacy

“Behind the Lobito Corridor” is a podcast series produced by the Istituto Affari Internazionali as part of the project: "Italy at the forefront of infrastructure diplomacy: the Lobito Corridor case". This podcast has been realised with the support of the Unit for Analysis, Policy Planning and Historical Documentation - Directorate General for Political Affairs and International Security of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in accordance with Article 23‒bis of the Decree of the President of the Italian Republic 18/1967. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The series delves deeper into the research briefs published within the project through conversations between the authors of the briefs and the host Pietro Rinaldi, Junior Researcher in the Energy, Climate and Resource Programme.

In this second episode, the brief explored is: “What Role for Italy’s Infrastructure Diplomacy? Lessons from the Lobito Corridor". Authors Marianna Lunardini, Researcher in the Multilateralism and Global Governance Programme, and Filippo Simonelli, Junior Researcher in the italian foreing policy programme, discuss the implications of Italian and European investment in the Corridor at a historical moment of weakening in the transatlantic bond.

This episode explores the Team Europe approach, the evolution of sustainable partnerships, and the progress of the Italian-African partnership.