Decoding the news. Massad Boulos, the Trump administration’s special advisor for Africa and the Middle East, underscores Washington’s intention to follow the Mediterranean theatre more closely, with Italy as a privileged interlocutor.
- The Mattei Plan—designed to combine economic development and security—provides a natural platform for convergence with the United States.
What Rome brings to the table. Italy positions itself as an indispensable partner in managing crises across the broader Mediterranean and as the architect of a structured cooperation framework with Africa through the Mattei Plan.
- Broader Mediterranean at the core: Rome views the stability of North Africa and the Middle East as a matter of national and European security.
- Transatlantic alignment: Washington sees Italy as a key ally in countering destabilising dynamics in Libya, the Sahel, and the Horn of Africa.
- Balance on Gaza and Lebanon: Italy maintains a calibrated stance between support for Israel and defence of Palestinian rights, in line with the United States.
- Mattei Plan as strategic framework: a partnership instrument with Africa that Italy aims to elevate into a shared platform with the U.S., focusing on development, energy, and security.
Specific topics:
- Libya: Tajani reiterated the strategic importance of the Libyan dossier for European security, backing the UN roadmap advanced by Special Representative Tetteh.
- Gaza: Italy and the U.S. call for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages. After meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Aghabekian, Tajani reaffirmed support for a two-state solution.
- Lebanon: condemnation of Israeli attacks against UNIFIL peacekeepers, a mission in which Italy plays a leading role.
- Horn of Africa and Sahel: emphasis on stability, countering human trafficking, and strengthening partnerships under the Mattei Plan.
Between the lines: the meeting. On Tuesday, Rome hosted a rare meeting between Ibrahim Dabaiba, nephew and adviser to Libya’s Tripoli-based premier, and Saddam Haftar, son of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar and deputy commander of the Libyan National Army — with Massad Boulos at the table.
- Mediated by Italy and the U.S., it was the most significant contact since 2022, unfolding as Tripoli faces military mobilization, a suspicious Misurata arms depot blast, and energy tensions involving Eni.
- Libyan lawmakers in Italy warned that PM Abdulhamid Dabaiba might escalate if cornered, urging Rome to act as an impartial broker to avert a new civil war.
What we’re watching. Tajani and Boulos will meet again on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
- These issues will take centre stage at the Mediterranean Dialogues in Naples, a platform to consolidate Italy’s role as a bridge between North and South of the Mediterranean and to project the Mattei Plan onto the international stage.
