Italian foreign policy between Ukraine and Gaza: politicisation and war fatigue from Draghi to Meloni

To what extent have war fatigue and politicisation impacted upon Italian foreign policy? Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi committed Italy to sending weapons to Kyiv and to condemning Putin’s actions after the intensification of the Russo-Ukrainian war in February 2022. Becoming Prime Minister in October 2022, Giorgia Meloni followed Draghi’s footsteps. This article argues that Draghi and Meloni sought to use the pro-Ukraine stance to elevate their profiles internationally and to make sure Italy would continue to be a reliable ally in NATO and the EU. Both Draghi and Meloni dealt with parties in their own coalitions that advanced a contrarian view of the government line. Draghi and Meloni strove to assert their leadership domestically and internationally. However, their political fortunes differed due to the strength of their governing coalitions and their ability to play the Ukraine card to manage domestic political divisions.