Born in Messina, he was the son of Gaetano Martino (1900–1967), the Foreign Minister of Italy from 1954 to 1957 and prominent member of the Italian Liberal Party (PLI).

[1] After graduation he started his career as visiting professor at the Rome Center of Loyola University Chicago.

[2] He worked as an editorial writer for a number of Italian newspapers (La Stampa, Il Sole 24 Ore, Mondo economico, L'Opinione, Il Giornale, Quotidiano Nazionale Nazione-Giorno-Carlino), and his bi-line has appeared in international publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Times, Le Figaro, Neue Zürcher Zeitung, The American Spectator, Economic Affairs, and others.

[2] In 2004 he was the main promoter for the suspending compulsory military service, already formally decided in 2001, but which was to begin in 2007: consequently the suspension came into effect indefinitely on 1 January 2005 (Martino Law), and furthermore granted exemption to all those who had in the past obtained postponements of service on grounds such as study.

[citation needed] Additionally, he backed the a speedier transformation of the armed forces into a body of professional volunteers.