Question

What was Mussolini’s foreign policy?

Answer 1

Hint: Foreign policy was a key concern for Mussolini. His aim was to make Italy a great power like Britain and France in Europe and he also wanted to establish a dominant position in the Mediterranean.

Complete answer: Mussolini’s foreign policy was to expand the Italian empire and establish dominance. In his first year itself, he invaded Corfu, a Greek island, to take revenge for the murder of four Italian nationals.
He planned further expansion into Africa and he did this by strengthening his hold over Libya. He particularly wanted to establish control over Ethiopia because in 1896 Italy was defeated by Ethiopia in Adwa.
By May 1936 Italy had conquered Ethiopia. Italy also invaded Albania in April 1939.
In May 1939 Italy and Germany entered into a military alliance known as the “Pact of Steel”. According to the pact each country had to take part in any conflict which involved the other. Apart from this leader of each country - Mussolini and Hitler - had to consult each other before taking any military action.
Therefore the correct answer would be that Mussolini wanted to expand Italian fascism’s sphere of influence.

Note: Mussolini appears to have convinced himself that he was beginning a new era in Italian foreign policy. He pursued his goals relentlessly and recklessly, particularly in the 1930s. He led Italy into a disastrous war which resulted in the collapse of fascism.