The France continues to pull its strings on Libya. And the fact that the blockade has arrived in these hours, on the part of Paris, of the European Union's condemnation of the general Khalifa Haftar it is a very important signal: the proof we've all been waiting for. Last night, Europe wanted to issue an official condemnation of every military action undertaken by the strongman of Cyrenaica. E, as he explains Republic, “a draft of the document was prepared yesterday by the Union's External Service and was circulated among all member states”. The objective was to have the document approved by all governments by 21. But France blocked because it explicitly named Haftar and his armed forces. In fact, confirmation of the suspicions not only of Tripoli but also of many European and global intelligence services has arrived: Emmanuel Macron has basically endorsed the general's campaign.
The news is particularly important. And it casts a shadow over the entire European strategy for Libya. Because it is clear that at this point the games are much more complex but also (finally) crystal clear than before. The European Union does not exist, the States play their game individually. And Italy, with Haftar's advance, risks being cornered by an axis made up of France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. And with the not too tacit approval of Russia that, as an external but present player, moves the Libyan strings by supporting (although not formally) the advance of the Libyan National Army. For Palazzo Chigi, the fall of Tripoli in the hands of Haftar it would represent the definitive closure of a desire for leadership of the transition in the North African country. And the mistakes of our government with respect to all possible partners involved in Libya, they risk taking a very serious toll.
After the news of the French stop to the condemnation of Haftar, the government's response has arrived from Matteo Salvini. Very harsh words that set the clock back a few months, when tension between Italy and France had reached alarming levels. “If it is true that France for economic or commercial interests is blocking the European initiative for peace and is supporting a party that is fighting it would be very serious. As Minister of the Interior I will not stand by and watch, we are delving deeper, Unfortunately, there is some evidence. If anyone plays war with us for business, they have found the wrong government and the wrong minister with me.". These are Salvini's words to "Non Stop News" on the radio Rtl 102.5.
But now Rome risks being left isolated. In these hours, Giuseppe Conte telephoned Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj to confirm Italy's desire not to abandon its Libyan ally. E the presence of our troops in Tripoli and Misurata demonstrates the yellow-green government's willingness not to leave the field to local militias, but also to send a signal to all parties on the field. The problem is that now, with the battle of Tripoli raging, the issue appears to be much more complicated. It's not about abandoning an ally, it's about understanding how to manage the inevitable transition of a country in which Rome could have counted a lot but which, due to obvious strategic and tactical errors, we are losing almost definitively. And the French move with Haftar seems to be the latest demonstration.