Italian Prime Minister Meloni Visits Libya

Georgia Meloni traveled to Tripoli, Libya, where she met with Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dabaiba, Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Unity.

Italy is the second largest exporter to Libya with a 14.5% share, and trade between the two countries amounted to 9 billion euros in 2023. Italy, historically present through the ENI Group, is particularly interested in investing in this North African country. The current presence, for example, with the consortium of companies that is rebuilding Tripoli International Airport, is intended to be consolidated in light of the new security conditions and legal certainty. Through the Mattei Plan, the government of Meloni wants to create an equitable partnership around specific projects.

For some of them, memoranda of understanding were signed in the presence of the Minister of Universities and Research Anna Maria Bernini, Minister of Health Orazio Schillaci, and Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi. With regard to health care, 3 million euros had been allocated for some children’s hospitals and the same amount for training courses. This will be followed by joint research activities in key sectors of the future, such as renewable energy, agri-food, and the blue economy. And the priority in the field of sports is to build and renovate sports infrastructure for the benefit of young Libyans.

However, the key issue is the migrant problem: there is now consolidated cooperation between the two countries in this area, and Meloni believes Libya is a fundamental partner. However, consideration must be given to and solutions found for substantive issues, such as the causes of migratory movements and human trafficking.

Later in Benghazi, Meloni will meet with Libya’s Arab National Army General Khalifa Belqasim Haftar. The message she will bring, according to Italian sources, is to “advance political process, preserving the unity of Libyan institutions, and work to end the presence of foreign forces on Libyan soil.”