Italy’s new foreign policy makes waves

The foreign policy agenda of Italy’s new populist government caused a stir on two fronts Monday, with Tunisia protesting a comment by the interior minister about migrants and the pro- Russia stance of the ruling coalition receiving scrutiny.

The Tunisian Foreign Ministry expressed “great surprise’’ at Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini’s statement on Sunday that the north African country “isn’t exporting gentlemen, it seems more often they’re exporting convicts.’’

The ministry summoned Italy’s ambassador Monday to discuss Salvini’s remark, saying it demonstrated “lack of understanding’’ of Italy’s co-operation agreements with Tunisia to prevent illegal immigration.

As the leader of the right-wing League, one of the two populist parties represented in the Italian Cabinet sworn in Friday, Salvini was known for xenophobic rhetoric. But his words carry more weight now that he is interior minister and deputy premier in the League-5-star government.

Salvini made the comment during a local campaign stop in Sicily where he was stumping for the League in upcoming local elections. He prefaced it by noting that Tunisia was a free and democratic country that isn’t experiencing “wars, epidemics, famines or pestilence.’’

After the Italian ambassador was summoned in Tunis, Salvini said he would be happy to discuss the issue soon with his Tunisian counterpart.

Tunisia has largely stemmed Italy-bound human smuggling operations, but the number of Tunisian migrants who have reached Italy so far this year, 2,889, are more than the number from any other country.