Giulio Maria Terzi di Sant’Agata

Giulio Maria Terzi di Sant’Agata trained in law in Milan and joined Italy’s foreign service in 1973. His senior assignments included the ambassadorship in Israel, political director at the foreign ministry, and permanent representative to the United Nations. In Israel he worked during the second intifada and Italy’s 2003 European Union presidency; in New York he represented Italy during its 2008 Security Council service. ^{1, 2}

As ambassador in Washington from 2009 to 2011, Terzi emphasized cultural and educational links alongside political relations. The foreign ministry’s biography credits him with helping restore Italian to the United States’ Advanced Placement programme in cooperation with Italian-American organizations. He also worked on the 150th anniversary of Italian unification and the bilateral visits of President Giorgio Napolitano and Vice President Joe Biden. ¹

Terzi became foreign minister in November 2011. In March 2013 he resigned in protest at the government’s decision to return two Italian marines to India, where they faced proceedings over the fatal shooting of fishermen during an antipiracy assignment. He said his objections had been disregarded; Prime Minister Mario Monti stated that the government did not share his position. Elected to the Senate with Fratelli d’Italia in 2022, Terzi subsequently chaired its European Union Policies Committee. ^{3, 2}