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Since the 2011 revolution against Muammar al-Qaddafi, Libyans have often blamed outside actors for their continuing woes. Too frequently, this grievance has been overstated and used as an excuse to minimize the hard compromises that Libyans themselves need to undertake to achieve a durable peace. Over the last year, however, both France and Italy have played a more intrusive role in Libyan politics, undermining rather than supporting the UN-led peace initiative. Italy’s new populist government has introduced anti-immigration measures that threaten to keep hundreds of thousands of migrants stranded in Libya, with potentially disastrous results. At the same time, the French-Italian rivalry over migration, the future of Europe, and the question of whether Paris or Rome should be the leading international voice on Libyan affairs is compounding Libya’s already serious problems.
Italy is now organizing an international conference on Libya set for November 12–13. Rome has an opportunity to help the UN advance several crucial elements of its peace efforts, including organizing Libyan national elections and reaching a lasting security arrangement. Conversely, if the Italian government uses its conference to sideline UN Libya envoy Ghassan Salamé, fight publicly with the French, and trumpet its policies on migration, it will further confuse Libya’s chaotic politics.
However, French-Italian differences are motivated more by politics than by divergent interests in Libya. Macron considers himself—and France—to be the standard bearer for the EU, defending liberal values and international cooperation in a time of rising populist nationalism. Naturally, he sees the new Italian government as a threat to his political vision. In a June 21 speech, Macron compared the spread of populism to “leprosy” and warned Europeans against those who “hate Europe”—a thinly veiled reference to the Italian government. Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, the leader of the M5S, fired back, “The real leprosy is the hypocrisy” of Macron, who in June had criticized Italy’s stance on migration but refused to allow a rescue ship with 600 migrants to dock in France. Macron doubled down on his views in his September speech to the UN General Assembly, proclaiming, “France will be there to ensure the world does not forget that the din of nationalism always leads to the abyss.” With France’s Libya policy run out of the Élysée and Salvini serving as the most powerful figure in Italy’s coalition, this rivalry is sure to persist—at the expense of Libyans
Tensions between the neighbors have risen as Rome has accused Paris of hypocrisy by refusing to take in a fair share of the hundreds of thousands of migrants who have reached Italy by boat since 2014.
Even NATO members are going after each other now.
originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: IndyFront
Have I missed how this is an indicator of WWIII?
originally posted by: IndyFront
Even NATO members are going after each other now.
originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: IndyFront
Have I missed how this is an indicator of WWIII?
originally posted by: odzeandennz
originally posted by: Asktheanimals
FranceAmerica played a leading role in destroying Libya
Fixed
23 February 2011: French President Nicolas Sarkozy pushed for the European Union (EU) to pass sanctions against Gaddafi (freezing Gaddafi family funds abroad) and demand he stop attacks against civilians.
25 February 2011: Sarkozy said Gaddafi "must go.
19 March 2011: French[76] forces began the military intervention in Libya, later joined by coalition forces with strikes against armoured units south of Benghazi and attacks on Libyan air-defence systems, as UN Security Council Resolution 1973 called for using "all necessary means" to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas from attack, imposed a no-fly zone, and called for an immediate and with-standing cease-fire, while also strengthening travel bans on members of the regime, arms embargoes, and asset freezes
originally posted by: IndyFront
Even NATO members are going after each other now.
originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: IndyFront
Have I missed how this is an indicator of WWIII?
Libya could also help the United States with its newly-reimposed Iranian sanctions. The drive to eliminate Iranian oil from the market will lead to an increase in oil prices that would hurt industrialized economies. Increased oil production in Libya following stabilization of the country could help the United States keep the price of oil low, while squeezing Iran out of the market.
originally posted by: stormcell
originally posted by: IndyFront
Even NATO members are going after each other now.
originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: IndyFront
Have I missed how this is an indicator of WWIII?
This immigrant/economic migrant/asylum seeker situation has been going on for ages. UK tries to put up border barriers in order to stop London continue to become a migrant magnet. France tries to roll them through to the UK. Italy tried to funnel them to the neighbouring countries. Spain put up barriers. Eastern block countries like Poland, Hungary and Austria have put up barriers. Greece, Spain and Italy are at the frontline and are being overloaded. When they put up barriers, that blows back the problem to Libya and countries beyond:
time.com...
www.theatlantic.com...
originally posted by: CriticalStinker
a reply to: IndyFront
Have I missed how this is an indicator of WWIII?
originally posted by: OccamsRazor04
And yet France has the gaul to talk about Trump?
originally posted by: worldstarcountry
a reply to: CriticalStinker
Turkey and Greece. Plus their guys keep shooting at our Americans on the Syrian/Rojava border.