Why an Italian alliance still depends on British supplies

Would the Italian Navy perform better if Italy joined the Central Powers in World War I?

It might fare better against France, but dependence on British supplies would leave many Italian ships difficult to sustain once Britain became the enemy.

Italy might find fighting France easier but would quickly encounter supply problems because many naval inputs came through Britain. Machinery, spares, and other imported naval requirements would become difficult to replace once Britain was an enemy. British industry supported Italy and Japan while they fought other powers, giving London leverage over nominally independent fleets. The counterfactual therefore turns on sustainment rather than simply comparing Italian and French warships.