The meeting, held Tuesday in Rome, brought together senior security and diplomatic officials from the four countries to review ongoing technical coordination on irregular migration, human trafficking networks and maritime security cooperation.
Why it matters: The Libya-Italy-Turkey-Qatar format is increasingly becoming a key coordination channel on migration in the central Mediterranean.
- The talks highlight Italy’s effort to position itself as a diplomatic hub on the Libya migration dossier.
- Turkey and Qatar are expanding their operational and political role alongside Tripoli on security issues tied to migration routes.
- The discussions point to a growing focus on operational coordination, intelligence-sharing and border security support.
The big picture: Migration from Libya remains one of the most sensitive political and security issues for Italy and the EU.
- Rome has continued to deepen coordination with the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity led by Abdulhamid Dabaiba, while also engaging regional actors with influence in Libya.
- According to the Libyan government, the Rome meeting reviewed the work of technical committees established under the quadrilateral mechanism and discussed ways to strengthen joint coordination against human trafficking and smuggling networks operating across routes linking the Sahel, Libya and the Mediterranean.
Zoom in: Tripoli’s message. The Libyan side framed irregular migration as “a sovereign, security and humanitarian complex dossier,” according to a statement released by the Government of National Unity.
- Tripoli called for a “real international partnership” focused on strengthening Libyan state institutions, particularly the defense and interior ministries, as well as supporting development projects in areas most affected by migration routes.
- Libyan officials also reiterated that “Libya is not a homeland for irregular migration and cannot become a migrant resettlement zone.”
- The statement emphasized voluntary return programs, support for countries of origin and economic stabilization efforts as central elements of the approach advocated by Tripoli.
Defense and security. The Libyan delegation presented measures adopted in recent months, including strengthening the coast guard, operational support for security forces and plans to establish a joint operations center under the quadrilateral cooperation framework.
- Italian officials attending the meeting included Fabrizio Saggio, diplomatic adviser to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Palazzo Chigi’s national security adviser.
- Turkey was represented by Akif Cagatay Kilic, senior adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while Qatar sent Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi.
Between the lines. The format reflects a broader convergence among countries backing the Tripoli-based government on migration management and Mediterranean security.
- For Rome, the mechanism also offers a platform to coordinate more closely with Ankara and Doha on operational support for Libyan authorities, while keeping migration control at the center of Mediterranean diplomacy.
What to watch:
- Whether the proposed joint operations center moves into an operational phase.
- Possible expansion of technical and logistical support for Libyan security institutions.
- The extent to which the quadrilateral format becomes institutionalized as a standing coordination mechanism on migration and Mediterranean security.
The bottom line: The Rome meeting signaled that migration management in the central Mediterranean is increasingly being handled through a multi-actor security framework centered on support for Libyan operational capacity and tighter regional coordination.
