Antonio Martino

Antonio Martino is an Italian politician, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1994 and Italian Minister of Defense from 2001 to 2006. He is a founding member of Forza Italia.

He is the son of Gaetano Martino, former Foreign Minister and prominent member of the late Italian Liberal Party (PLI). In mid-the 1980s he was unsuccessful candidate for the post of PLI secretary. A member of the Italian Parliament, he was first elected in 1994, re-elected in 1996 and 2001. Since 1992, Martino has been a professor of Economics, in the Political Science Department at the LUISS University of Rome; he is author of several books (including The Modern Mask of Socialism) and over 150 papers and articles on economic theory and policy. He has been a frequent contributor to Italian and international magazines and newspapers, as well as Italian and international television and radio programs.

From 1988-90, Martino was President of the Mont Pelerin Society, in 1985 he joined the Institute for European Defence and Strategic Studies and he is also a member of The Social Affairs Unit which also includes the IEDSS' John O’Sullivan, the Centre for the New Europe, the Atlantic Partnership, and O'Sullivan's New Atlantic Initiative, The Philadelphia Society since 1981, The Heritage Foundation, since 1978, The Institute of Economic Affairs, since 1992 and The Cato Journal's Editorial Board since 1990.

The Italian La Repubblica stated that "while Defense Minister Antonio Martino suggests that Pollari arrange an appointment to meet an old friend of Italy. This old friend is Michael A. Ledeen, the old fox of American parallel intelligence conduits, who had once been declared persona non grata by Rome during 1980s."

A Vanity Fair commentary on this adds:

According to La Repubblica, Nicolò Pollari had become frustrated by the C.I.A.'s refusal to let SISMI deliver a smoking gun that would justify an invasion of Iraq. At an unspecified date, he discussed the issue with Ledeen's longtime friend Minister of Defense Antonio Martino. Martino, the paper reported, told Pollari to expect a visit from "an old friend of Italy," namely Ledeen. Soon afterward, according to La Repubblica,

Pollari allegedly took up the Niger matter with Ledeen when he was in Rome. Ledeen denies having had any such conversations. Pollari declined to be interviewed by Vanity Fair, and has denied playing any role in the Niger affair. Martino has declined to comment.

Writing on or by Martino can be found at UnJobs.