The historically stable relationship between Italy and Turkey is experiencing a moment of uncertainty. Italy’s officials and businesspeople generally support a closer partnership, but the majority of political parties as well as the Italian public are increasingly wary of engaging Turkey as long as its political problems persist. The assumption is that, lacking a re-consolidation of Turkey’s democracy, not much progress is in sight. Augmenting the problem are also several foreign-policy-related issues that may put Italy and Turkey at loggerheads. The expected failure to upgrade the EU–Turkey Customs Union may be a further complicating factor, as the arrangement provides the basis for Turkish–Italian trade.
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