Gentiloni asked Parliament to approve the line of military intervention in Liabia. Are we running after the French once again?
“The problem is not to run after the French as Italy has never been interventionist, on the contrary it has always taken time, sometimes too long, before deciding. Libya and the Mediterranean are certainly our problem but also our strategic resource, as it is for France, historically present in the whole area of North Africa. French politics has always been very active in Africa and its relations with North Africa are of the first order and more extensive than in Italy. Certainly since Jean Yves Le Drian was appointed Foreign Minister in the executive of French President Macron it was clear that he would seek to capitalize on the work done as Defense Minister in the previous legislature, repositioning French politics in Libya behind the strongman of the moment on Libyan soil: Gen. Khalifa Haftar. On 17 July there was a meeting of European foreign ministers in Brussels and Minister Le Drian had the opportunity to speak with the head of the EEAS (European External Action Service) Federica Mogherini. In an interview with the newspaper Le Mond on July 17, Mogherini acknowledges that Haftar appears to be an important interlocutor for the negotiations on the future of Libya. Le Drian was asked to use his influence to prevent Egypt and the UAE from worsening the situation in Libya by taking advantage of the isolation that Qatar has been placed in, strengthening Gen. Haftar even more, and he remembered that the city of Misurata is of the same importance as Tripoli and Tobruk ”.
Was it Serraj who asked Italy to intervene, or was it the other way around?
"Italy needs to put in place concrete actions, according to a strategic plan of national interest conjugated to the Community, so as not to exonerate migrants on their coasts. Italy has always been very present in Libya and wants to continue to do so, in the past has called for leadership in the Libya dossier that has been granted. Unfortunately, the fruits of this leadership have not been seen and the world does not expect Bible times to solve the problems. It is not known who asked why and why: the situation that was confusing seems to have been overthrown by our government, newspaper discussions sometimes threaten to worsen the perception of Italy in Libya, putting to trial the little that You have been able to do that country. "
Speaking of those who want military intervention in Libya and because Preziosa says: "No country wants direct intervention in Libya, because it lacks an enemy. The "adventurous" announcement of sending 5000 soldiers, fortunately unresponsive, triggered negative reactions in Libya by all tribes: it was not a good political move, first because it was announced then because it was not implemented, indeed it alienated some sympathy Gained over time in that country. Although Libyans are divided into tribes and families, local interest bearers are not enemies, they have to find the way of coexistence and foreigners help us find the new way to stabilization. Libya has been destabilized by the West. Libya was a disaster generated by some European countries, certainly not from Italy, which goes on from the 2011. In a report by the English Parliament of 2016 it is reported that different decisions could be made on Libya, but the worst was taken. Italian politics at that time was irrelevant to avoid disaster, despite the agreements with Libya signed with Gheddafi that engaged us in many fields.
Libya's stabilization is a national interest, primarily, to avoid the tide of immigrants who want to leave Africa. Italy's immigration policy has not been shared by Europe, which fears social instability in their own countries, and the possibility of radicalization of some of the migrants whose almost nothing is known about. We were politically isolated with our decisions in the face of an urgent need to close the immigration gap. "
Would it not be better for the Italian Government to speak with General Haftar too?
France spoke with two interlocutors, Italy only with one of them. Surely the Tobruk government, and then also Gen. Haftar, reacted negatively to the supposed military mission of Italy. Serraj was present in France as head of a Libyan government wanted by the UN but not voted by the Libyans, Gen. Haftar was present as the strong Military authority of Tobruk's elected government by the Libyans. Gen. Haftar has succeeded in defeating Islamic terrorism on Libya's land, bringing a bit of order in the region; Between the two did not run good blood and Serraj was apostrophated "a FANFARONE" by Haftar. "
According to General Precious "Italy will not embark on any black hole. Italy has been asked for technical assistance, which has been controversial by the Libyan government of Tobruk and Italy is responding with all the necessary caution. It seems to me that no additional funds have been allocated for the established mission, which gives us the sum of our commitment on the basis of what we have been asked for. These missions need to be judged by the effects produced on land or at sea: if the number of migrants will be steady or rising in the coming periods it means that such a mission has been ineffective or useless. "
Are our armed forces able to deal with this further fieldwork?
"Our armed forces are able to face this umpteenth commitment on the field? The Italian armed forces are among the most competent of NATO: this is not my opinion but that of non-Italian NATO commanders. Being able to do an operation means having the skills acquired through the training and continuous use of the departments as well as the financial resources assigned. Britain has a budget for defense from about 60 billion, France allocates about 43 billion, Germany 40 billion annually and Italy 12 billion about a year, this lineup shows who can do something and with what sustainability , considering the almost equal dimensions of the personnel of the armed forces of the countries mentioned ".