Breach of Faith? Italian-Soviet Cold War Trading and ENI's 'International Oil Scandal'

Authors

  • Roberto Cantoni Université Paris-Est (École des Ponts ParisTech, Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15826/qr.2015.4.132

Abstract

By the late-1950s, Soviet oil exports to Western Europe caused widespread concern in a number of Western countries as these feared that Moscow could use oil to weaken their economic interests. At the same time though, other Western countries had no hesitation in developing trade relations with the Soviets, seeing this as a good commercial opportunity. The paramount example of such political nonchalance was Italy’s oil company, ENI. In 1960, ENI signed a barter contract with the Soviets, causing a scandal in the Western oil world: the Italian company’s act was seen as a serious breach of faith by its international allies. As a consequence, ENI’s contract became a serious bone of contention in the country’s bilateral and international relations. This paper analyzes the origins and development of the ENI-Soviet deal, and focuses on the reactions of Italy’s Western allies and the debate it generated at the European Economic Community.

Author Biography

Roberto Cantoni, Université Paris-Est (École des Ponts ParisTech, Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée)

PhD

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Published

2015-12-30

How to Cite

Cantoni, R. (2015). Breach of Faith? Italian-Soviet Cold War Trading and ENI’s ’International Oil Scandal’. Quaestio Rossica, (4), 180–198. https://doi.org/10.15826/qr.2015.4.132

Issue

Section

Vox redactoris