Historically the Mediterranean Ocean was one of the most important stations for the Royal Navy, as it helped to guard the vital Suez Canal. British rivals such as France and Imperial Russia had operations or aspirations in the area. Given its central location in the Mediterranean, Italy could be a great ally or major threat in the event of war. How plausible would it have been for the United Kingdom to have pursued Italy as an ally in the decades before World War I? How would this impact British defense and foreign policy?