Antonio Martino (1942-2022) was an Italian economist, academic, and politician renowned for his libertarian economic views and influential role in Italian politics during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Born in Messina, Sicily, on December 22, 1942, he pursued legal studies at the University of Messina, earning a J.D. in Jurisprudence in 1964. He then moved to the United States for postgraduate studies in economics at the University of Chicago from 1966 to 1968, where he studied under Nobel laureate Milton Friedman and was exposed to the Chicago School of economics, which profoundly shaped his free-market ideology. After completing his studies, Martino embarked on an academic career, serving as a visiting professor at the Rome Center of Loyola University Chicago and later holding positions at various Italian universities, including the University of Rome Tor Vergata, where he taught economics and contributed to libertarian thought in Italy.

Martino's political career began in earnest with the founding of Forza Italia in 1994, the center-right party led by Silvio Berlusconi, of which he was a key founding member advocating for deregulation, privatization, and reduced government intervention. That same year, he briefly served as Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs in Berlusconi's short-lived first government. He returned to prominence in 2001 as Minister of Defense, a position he held until 2006 under Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, during which he supported Italy's participation in U.S.-led military operations, including the invasion of Iraq in 2003. His pro-Atlanticist stance and close ties to American neoconservative figures, such as Michael Ledeen, a personal friend, underscored his advocacy for strong transatlantic alliances and Italian alignment with Western interventions.

Throughout his life, Martino remained active in academic and think-tank circles, promoting classical liberalism and critiquing socialism. He authored several books and articles on economics and politics and was known for his advocacy for Italian involvement in U.S.-led coalitions. Martino passed away on March 5, 2022, in Rome, leaving a legacy as a bridge between Italian libertarianism and global conservative networks.