March was a high-stakes month for Italy’s strategic landscape, marked by institutional restructuring, accelerated diplomacy, and critical developments in national industrial governance. The Government appointed Fabio Mattei as the first civilian Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense, inaugurating a structural reform designed to better align planning with industrial policy. Senator Iannone took office as Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport, while Senator Zanettin assumed leadership of the newly formed Banking Inquiry Commission.  President Mattarella launched a sharp institutional critique of rising protectionism, urging the European Union to adopt a strategic and unified stance against unilateral trade barriers.

Parliament advanced a landmark bill to regulate the Space Economy, setting up a centralized licensing framework and a dedicated multi-year investment. The underwater defense sector also gained prominence, with speculation surrounding the appointment of Giordo to lead the National Underwater Command Center in La Spezia.

Italy’s foreign policy took center stage as President Mattarella led a historic state visit to Japan, reaffirming the bilateral Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traveled to London for a high-level summit on Ukraine, strengthening transatlantic alignment. Meanwhile, Senate President La Russa’s institutional visit to China helped recalibrate ties following Italy’s exit from the Belt and Road Initiative.

In economic affairs, Confindustria revised its 2025 GDP growth forecast down to +0.6%, citing geopolitical volatility and the threat of a trade war. Italy nonetheless maintained its lead among EU peers in deploying Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funds. National security filings under the Golden Power mechanism rose sharply in early 2025, prompting calls for regulatory updates, while the entry into force of the NIS2 cybersecurity decree sparked controversy over compliance clarity and inter-agency coordination.

The spotlight remained firmly on strategic enterprises, with an imminent reshuffle of top executives across major state-owned companies. The Government, through CDP, is managing nominations at Snam, Italgas, Fincantieri, Invitalia, Sace, Simest, and key regulators like Arera. Behind the scenes, power dynamics between political parties, institutional actors, and investment funds are shaping the final lineup. Meanwhile, Enel, Eni, Poste Italiane, and Terna reported solid financials and unveiled bold strategic plans.