Introduction
Mussolini’s early foreign policy aimed to restore Italy’s prestige, expand influence in the Mediterranean and Balkans, and project Fascist strength through bold diplomatic and military actions.

Aims of Mussolini’s Foreign Policy (1922–1923)

Mussolini assumed power in October 1922, determined to assert Italy as a great power. His early foreign policy was shaped by several overarching goals:

• Enhance National Prestige: Italy had emerged from the First World War as a ‘victor’ but with the perception of a ‘Mutilated Victory’, leading to widespread resentment.

• Revise Post-War Settlements: The Treaty of London (1915) promised territorial gains that Italy felt were only partially delivered. Mussolini aimed to revise these agreements.

• Expand Italian Influence: The Mediterranean was seen as ‘Mare Nostrum’ (‘Our Sea’), and Mussolini aimed to dominate the Adriatic, Mediterranean, and Balkan regions.

• Strengthen Fascism Domestically: Foreign policy successes were vital to consolidate Mussolini’s regime and strengthen his image as a dynamic leader.

Mussolini’s early diplomacy was opportunistic, balancing aggressive rhetoric with limited resources. Italy was militarily and economically weak after the war, forcing Mussolini to rely on bluff, propaganda, and high-profile gestures rather than large-scale conflict.

Key Objectives Explained

Revision of Treaties

Mussolini sought to revise the Versailles system to gain more influence. Italy wanted:

• Control over Dalmatian islands and parts of Dalmacija (denied after WWI).

• Stronger position in the Dodecanese Islands and Albania.

• Security in South Tyrol and Istrian Peninsula, previously annexed but contested.

Map of “Italia Irredenta” highlighting regions such as Corfu claimed by Fascist Italy to illustrate Mussolini’s revisionist aims. Source

Prestige and Power Projection

Italy’s sense of inferiority compared to France and Britain pushed Mussolini to adopt assertive measures. By orchestrating diplomatic stunts and minor military actions, Mussolini presented Italy as a bold and modern power on the international stage.

The Corfu Incident (1923)

The Corfu Incident was Mussolini’s first major foreign policy test and an early demonstration of his expansionist ambitions.

Background

• In August 1923, an Italian general, Enrico Tellini, was assassinated while leading a boundary commission on the Greek-Albanian border.

• Mussolini accused Greece of responsibility, demanding an apology and 50 million lire in compensation.

• When Greece refused, Mussolini bombarded and occupied the Greek island of Corfu on 31 August 1923.

Actions Taken

• Military Demonstration: Italian naval forces attacked Corfu, killing civilians and occupying the island.

• Diplomatic Pressure: Mussolini refused to accept the League of Nations’ authority, insisting that the dispute be settled through the Conference of Ambassadors, dominated by major powers.

Outcome

• Under pressure from Britain and France, Greece paid the demanded compensation.

• Italian forces withdrew from Corfu in September 1923 after receiving the payment and a face-saving diplomatic solution.

• Mussolini portrayed the event as a triumph, enhancing his image at home as a leader who could defy the League of Nations and assert Italian dominance.

Significance of the Corfu Incident

The Corfu affair highlighted several themes of Mussolini’s foreign policy:

• Defiance of International Norms: Mussolini rejected League of Nations intervention, undermining its authority.

• Use of Force and Diplomacy: He relied on military pressure combined with diplomatic manoeuvring to achieve results.

• Domestic Propaganda Victory: The incident was widely publicised in Italy as proof of Fascist strength.

However, it also revealed Italy’s limitations. Mussolini had to compromise under British and French pressure, indicating that Italy lacked the power to sustain major conflicts.

Connection to Broader Foreign Policy Aims

The Corfu Incident was not an isolated event but part of Mussolini’s strategy to:

• Assert Italy’s right to leadership in the Mediterranean.

• Demonstrate that Italy could no longer be ignored in European affairs.

• Lay the groundwork for future expansion in the Balkans and North Africa.

It also demonstrated Mussolini’s pragmatism: while willing to use force for prestige, he avoided war when confronted by stronger powers.

Links to Later Diplomatic Developments

Following Corfu, Mussolini continued to seek prestige through diplomacy, leading to Italy’s participation in:

• Locarno Treaties (1925): Agreements that normalised relations between European powers, increasing Mussolini’s international status.

• Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928): A declaration renouncing war as a means of national policy, which Mussolini signed despite its contradiction with Fascist militarism.

By leveraging aggressive gestures like Corfu and participating in international agreements, Mussolini crafted an image of Italy as a resurgent power—a central pillar of his early foreign policy.