Argentine-Italian relations

In 1816, Argentina declared independence from the Spanish Empire . In those years, Italy was not a single state, there were several independent Italian countries. In May 1836, the Sardinian Kingdom became the first Italian state to recognize the independence of Argentina and establish diplomatic relations with it ^[1] . In 1842, the Italian general (and future leader of Risorgimento ) Giuseppe Garibaldi during the Civil War in Uruguay fought against the Argentine Confederation and the National Party of Uruguay ^[2] .

In 1850, the king of Sardinia (and the future king of united Italy ), Victor Emmanuel II, appointed an ambassador to Argentina ^[1] . In 1855, the countries signed the Treaty of Friendship, Trade and Shipping. In 1924, Italy increased its diplomatic representation in Buenos Aires to the level of an embassy. In the same year, the future king of Italy, Umberto II, visited Argentina with the aim of promoting the political ideology of fascism and trying to foment the interest of people of Italian descent to events in their historical homeland ^[3] .

After the outbreak of World War II, Argentina took a neutral position, but the influential Argentine politician Juan Peron admired the chairman of the Italian Council of Ministers, Benito Mussolini ^[4] . In 1944, due to international pressure, Argentina officially declared war on the Third Reich and the Japanese Empire , and the Kingdom of Italy capitulated to the troops of the Anti-Hitler coalition in September 1943. The government of Argentina organized the supply of wheat for residents of war-ravaged Italy ^[5] . In June 1947, the first lady of Argentina, Eva Peron, paid an official visit to Italy during her “rainbow tour of Europe” ^[6] .

During the Dirty War (1976-1983), eight Italian citizens were missing in Argentina ^[7] . In May 2007, Italy sentenced five former Argentine Navy officers to life imprisonment in absentia for killing three of the eight Italians who went missing during the Dirty War. ^{[8] [9]} In 1982, during the Falkland War between Argentina and Great Britain , the Italian government diplomatically supported London , but did not take part in hostilities ^[10] .

Between 1870 and 1960, more than 2 million Italian citizens immigrated to Argentina. Most Italians left Italy because of poverty and war. In 2011, more than 25 million citizens of Argentina (about 62% of the population) are of Italian origin ^[11] . The cultural contribution of Italy is present in the cuisine of Argentina , while Rioplatian Spanish came under the strong influence of the Italian language . A number of Argentine politicians, sports figures, actors, models, writers, as well as clerics, have Italian roots. Argentina has the second largest community of Italians in the world after Brazil ^[12] . In 1973, Argentina and Italy signed a dual citizenship agreement. ^[13]

In 2015, the volume of trade between countries amounted to 1.9 billion US dollars ^[14] . Argentina's exports to Italy: wheat, soybeans, frozen crustaceans, pears and beef. Italy's exports to Argentina: steam turbines, rails, machinery and drugs. Italian automakers such as Ferrari , Fiat and Lamborghini are represented in Argentina, as well as Italian clothing and food stores. The joint Argentine-Italian steel company Techint is represented in several countries around the world. In 2000, the Mercosur member countries (including Argentina) and the European Union (including Italy) began negotiations on a free trade agreement ^[15] .

• Argentina has an embassy in Rome and a consulate general in Milan ^[16] .
• Italy has an embassy in Buenos Aires , as well as consulates general in Bahia Blanca , Cordoba , La Plata , Rosario and consulates in Mar del Plata and Mendoza ^[17] .