Space bridges: Italy and Africa’s strategic alliance

Rome: Italy-Africa space alliance. On Monday, the opening session of the two-day Italy-Africa Space Conference began in Rome, marking a new chapter in space cooperation between Italy and Africa.

The conference, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italian Space Agency and other key government ministries, marks the first operational follow-up in the space sector since the Italy-Africa Summit earlier this year.

The conference, which includes the participation of 20 African space agencies, including the emerging African Union Space Agency, aims to establish long-term partnerships in an increasingly strategic sector.

In his opening remarks Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stressed the importance of this initiative.

He stated, “Today’s conference symbolises the new relationship that Italy wants to build with the African continent, to create new professional skills that can guide African growth and, consequently, European growth.”

Minister for Business Adolfo Urso also highlighted Italy’s ambitions in the space sector, noting that space is central to their political action in the G7. He added that they are witnessing a similar revolution today as seen with the sea and its resources.

Minister Urso also emphasised the need to strengthen partnerships with foreign actors, particularly those in Africa, citing his recent missions to North Africa and the Horn of Africa as examples.

Space hub renewal. The conference also focused on the revitalisation of the Malindi space centre in Kenya, a significant asset in Italy’s space history.

“The revitalisation of the Malindi base will benefit the entire African continent,” Urso said, envisioning it as a training and education hub for African countries.

The Luigi Broglio Space Centre, established in 1966, played a crucial role in making Italy the third country to build, launch, and control a satellite with its personnel from its launch base.

However, the centre’s state has raised concerns in recent years. According to a July 2022 report by COPASIR, the Italian Parliament’s Intelligence Committee, the Italian space base is essentially unusable due to the pervasive presence of Chinese technicians.

The report warns of strategic risks due to Chinese technicians who access the base through a bilateral agreement between Beijing and Nairobi and could potentially conduct intelligence operations.

Bridging space diplomacy. Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, who oversees the intelligence community, took the opportunity to emphasise the dual nature of space technology developments. These developments are increasingly utilised for both civil and military purposes.

Undersecretary Mantovano called for a robust legal infrastructure and bilateral agreements to facilitate the exchange of classified information. He asserted that Italy cannot share higher-level expertise with its partners without such a framework.

Additionally, Undersecretary Mantovano stated that the conference also aims to promote an inclusive vision of space as a tool for sustainability and competitiveness through space diplomacy and cooperation.