Italy and Yemen: a hundred years of relations, looking beyond the war

The centenary of relations between Italia and Yemen should not merely be an occasion to look back on the past. It can serve as a starting point for building a new relationship – one that is more substantive and better attuned to today’s challenges. In 2026, Italia and Yemen will celebrate a hundred years of official relations. It is an important anniversary, especially when one considers how much the world has changed over the course of this century and how many transformations both countries have undergone. On 2 September 1926, in Sana’a, the Treaty of Friendship and Economic Relations between Italia and Yemen was signed. For Imam Yahya’s Yemen, that agreement held particular significance: Italia was the first Western power to formally recognise Yemeni independence through an international agreement. It was not merely the start of a diplomatic relationship. In the years that followed, Italian doctors, engineers and professionals worked in Yemen, leaving their mark particularly in the healthcare sector. The treaty was subsequently renewed in 1937 and relations continued, despite spanning very different political eras. These are aspects that not everyone is aware of today, particularly amongst the younger generations. Yet they go some way towards explaining why Italia is still held in such high regard in Yemen. Personally, I believe that the best way to mark this centenary is not, however, to dwell solely on history. History has value when it helps us understand where we can go from here.

At first glance, Italia and Yemen may seem far apart. However, if we look at the geography through the lens of trade routes, the distance is greatly reduced. Italia lies at the heart of the Mediterranean. Yemen borders the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab, one of the world’s most sensitive and important maritime chokepoints. Events in the Red Sea in recent years have served as a stark reminder of this to everyone. A crisis at Bab al-Mandab can have almost immediate consequences for traffic through the Suez Canal, for transport and insurance costs, for Mediterranean ports and, ultimately, for European economies. The Red Sea, therefore, is much closer to the Mediterranean than it might seem. For a country like Italy, with a strong maritime tradition and an economy deeply linked to international trade, Yemen’s stability should also be considered from this perspective. And when we talk about stability, we cannot think solely in terms of military security. There can be no lasting security without institutions, economic development, employment and prospects for the younger generations.

For many years, Yemen’s international image has been inextricably linked with war and the humanitarian crisis. This is understandable, but we cannot allow this to become the country’s sole image. Yemen has a history stretching back millennia, a young population, a long coastline on the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, and a geographical location that few countries can match. It has potential in energy, fisheries, agriculture, ports, logistics and, one day, tourism once again. The war will end. We do not know when, and we must not underestimate the political difficulties that still exist, but sooner or later it will be necessary to tackle a massive reconstruction effort. And I believe that this is precisely where Italia and Yemen should begin to look beyond the emergency. We must not wait until the day after peace is declared to start talking about reconstruction. That work can begin earlier: by building relationships between institutions and businesses, training people, developing projects and identifying sectors where there is mutual interest.

Italia possesses expertise that aligns with many of Yemen’s future needs. I am thinking of infrastructure, ports and airports, energy, water management, healthcare, agriculture, telecommunications, mechanical engineering and vocational training. Aden, Hodeidah and Mukalla, for example, are not merely Yemeni ports. Their location could be of much greater significance in a future where the country returns to stability and is fully integrated into regional trade routes. The same applies to airports and domestic infrastructure. But the collaboration I envisage should not be limited to large contracts awarded to foreign companies. One of the aspects I have always appreciated about the Italian economic system is the strength of small and medium-sized enterprises. This is a particularly interesting model for a country like Yemen, where reconstruction will require not only major infrastructure but also entrepreneurs, technicians, local businesses and new jobs. For this reason, it would be more useful to talk about partnerships, joint ventures, technology transfer and training, rather than a simple buyer-seller relationship. The energy sector also offers clear opportunities. Yemen has oil and gas, but anyone familiar with the country knows just how great its potential is for solar power and, in some areas, wind power. Rebuilding what has been destroyed does not necessarily mean recreating what existed before. In some sectors, we can do better. Then there is culture. Italia and Yemen share, each in their own way, a special relationship with history. Sana’a, Shibam, Zabid and Socotra are heritage sites that must be protected. Italy’s expertise in restoration, archaeology and conservation could give rise to projects of great value – including symbolic value – between our two countries.

In June this year, a group of young Yemeni diplomats took part in a training programme in Italia, split between Turin and Rome, organised in collaboration with the Farnesina and the International Training Centre of the ILO. In my view, initiatives of this kind are perhaps even more important than they appear. I would like to see more Yemeni students at Italian universities, more training programmes for engineers, doctors, diplomats and civil servants, and greater links between the universities of the two countries. Because agreements are signed by governments, but lasting relationships are built by people. And this is something I know from personal experience too. A story that I also feel is my own