Italy withdraws from China’s Belt and Road project

ROME—Italy has withdrawn from China’s vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, more than four years after becoming the only G7 nation to sign up, a government source said Wednesday. The long-expected decision was quietly communicated to Beijing three days ago without any official announcement, according to the Corriere della Sera daily. An Italian government source confirmed to AFP on Wednesday that Rome had pulled out, giving no details beyond saying it was done in such a way as to “keep channels of political dialogue open.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has long been opposed to Italy’s participation in an initiative viewed by many as an attempt by Beijing to buy political influence—and whose economic benefits to Rome were limited. —AFP