Italy to Leave China’s ‘Atrocious’ Belt and Road

Beijing's wide-reaching infrastructure initiative—the Belt and Road Initiative—is losing a key player. Italy wants to pull out of the deal, but without hurting relations with Beijing. Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto says he regretted joining the Belt and Road -- calling the decision "improvised and atrocious." He said the plan did little to boost Italian exports, and that China was the only winner. Amid criticism from Western allies -- Italy became the first developed country to sign the Belt and Road Initiative in 2019. Italy became the only G7 country that signed onto Beijing's Belt and Road project in 2019. The scheme promises funding for infrastructure projects outside China. But critics see it as a vehicle for the Chinese regime to expand its influence overseas. After meeting with President Biden at the White House last week, Italy's Prime Minister said she would negotiate with China about the possibility of withdrawing by the end of this year.