Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to visit Libya on January 28th, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. The delegation is expected to make several stops and hold institutional meetings with Libyan leaders during their day-long visit.
According to sources, the Prime Minister’s visit may also include the signing of new oil deals between Italian energy company Eni and the National Oil Corporation (NOC), a company controlled by the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GUN) based in the capital Tripoli.
On January 27th, the Foreign Affairs Minister of the GUN, Najla el Mangoush, met with the Italian ambassador in Tripoli, Joseph Buccino, to discuss preparations for the Italian government delegation’s visit. The trip, which aims to secure more oil and gas supplies from North Africa, has yet to be confirmed and may be delayed or cancelled due to security concerns.
This comes as Meloni said in late December that stability in Libya is an essential issue for Italy, noting that Italy contributes to the debate on the constitutional basis to renew the legitimacy of the Libyan authorities and address the flow of illegal immigration to Europe.
Meloni appears keen to play a leading role in the Mediterranean to ensure healthy relations with all sides, particularly Russia, Turkaey and China. This would also enable Italy to become Europe’s gateway to African energy.
Image Credit: AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia
