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In 1882 Italy joined the Triple Alliance, mostly it seems out of anger over the French annexation of Tunisia. What if they decided not to rashly rush into this alliance and remain a 'free agent' in the Mediterranean? Would they end up an ally of France eventually or would they remain neutral until there was a war in Europe and sell their entry to the highest bidder? What does this mean for Italian foreign policy in the meantime? Do they become more cautious about foreign adventures or become more hostile toward Austria?

Assuming a WW1 similar to ours happens about the same time, how does Austria react, knowing that Italy is not an ally, even a less than faithful one?
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