Here's a new map of my wank Italy series. We are in the early 80's, just prior to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
So, Greece saw a militaristic coup of state, exterminating the Royal family and going on a spiral of repressions. The Italians and their allies however started an embargo over the country and promoted a hidden opposition. The regime in Constantinople tried to react with a DOW over Turkey, culpable in their eyes to support their population in the Hellenic country, but Italy, receiving the OK from both USA and USSR, intervened in the conflict and so the entire Arab League.
Soon flanked from all fronts, the Greeks didn't find better than launch a nuclear bomb, which was an Italian "broken arrow" seized by the Greeks in the mid 60's, over Taranto, where the bulk of the enemy navy was concentrated. Taranto was devastated, and the Italian fleet drastically wiped out, but Rome retaliated nuking Patras and started a furious carpet bombardament over Greece. The fear and the rage provoked Greeks and Turks to rebel and overthrow the government in Constantinople, and accepting an unconditionated surrender.
Greece was placed under Italian occupation, giving the crown of the country to the son of Sofia of Greece and Vittorio Emanuele, so preparing an union of the crowns between Italy and Greece; besides the Hellenic country was so crippled it couldn't offer any type of opposition.
Turkey, Serbia and Bulgaria were repaid with the return of various lands; Ankara even obtained a direct access with Syria.
Meanwhile, the Iraq of Saddam Hussein won greatly the war with Iran; the regime wasn't overthrow, but the Mesopotamic country obtained Abadan and other lands. The Iranian regime strenghtned its ties with the USA, while the Shiite radicalism started to rise and going towards terroristic streaks.
In Africa, the Communists continued to expand, managing to overthrow the Portuguese regime in Angola; this forced Mozambique and Zimbabwe to search the Italian friendship, and the South African Republic to integrate Namibia and Botswana, in a quite aggressive way. Britain was forced to expel the country from the Commonwealth. Lesotho and Swaziland then forged alliances with Italy as well. Meanwhile, South Sudan started a campaign of liberation, soon obtaining the interest of the Italians.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka joined the PASSA as well, as feeling threatened by India. Malaysia, Malacca and Singapore started to open negotiations too. Pakistan was interested as well, but Rome decided to stall for the moment the negotiations fearing to jeopardize things with India; the government of New Delhi started in fact to feel a complex of encirclement, and made diplomatic moves with Tehran. Iran was more than willing to befriend India.
While the PASSA grew, the rise of the EEC was more slow. In fact, the progress of the European Community was halted by the prominent power Italy will have in the organization (so unbalancing it), especially if she form an union with Greece.
Neither the USA were so happy, considering they gave too much to the Italians, not properly a superpower but still the third world power, both militarly and economically. Despite still officially friends of Rome, the various American administrations of the time (especially the Carter's one, who however received a bad blow with the Iranian defeat against Iraq) started to work to contain the Italian influence; this will allow them to cool down the tensions with the USSR and China, both interested to contain Italy as well. India too strenghtned her relations with Washington. Meanwhile, the Americans attacked the Italians about their support to dictatorships (Iraq, Burma, Central Africa, Zimbabwe, Syria).
It was however partially true. In other countries, Italy defended the democratic assets, such as the Philippines, where Marcos's dictatorship attempt was foiled by the Italian intervention. So was the same for Mozambique and Ethiopia.
John Carter's badassedness, I've noted, fluctuates wildly depending on plot needs: at one point he's killing Green Martians with a single blow of his fist, at another he's being successfully held at bay by an elderly red Martian which just happens to be very, very good. But this is really a discussion for chat or books and media).
